Homework Responses Wk 7 & 3

Class,

 

During this week’s lesson, we were asked to identify what type of assessment would be completed to determine the level of protection afford to an individual.  “The decision on what level of protection to provide is wrought with unknowns.  A decision should, of course, rely on the role of the principal, the nature of the case, the duration of the operation (i.e., trial, etc.), the adversary, and manpower and economic constraints” (McGovern, 2011).  First it is important to understand the threat posed to the principal at the time.  Next it is important to understand how much manpower and resources are going to be required to provide the appropriate protection.  Utilizing a threat/risk assessment initially ensures the appropriate known threats are identified and ultimately the associated risk posed by each threat.  Evaluating the known tactics, techniques, and procedures the known threats have used in the past will help best identify where the principal is vulnerable.  For example, the vulnerability assessment may help show the areas or gaps where something could be exploited by the adversary and used to attack the principal.

 

Protection details should end only at the request of the principal or after the threats have minimized to a substantial level.  The speed at which this would occur is not very clear cut and could last for a long time depending on the role of the principal. 

 

Lifetime protection of a former President is something that can be taxing on a variety of resources.  The agency provided the protection such as secret service could best utilize the manpower dedicated to the President protection somewhere else.  Furthermore, the resources required to properly support the protection detail can be expensive.  I think the best timeline is providing the detail for five years.  At the five year mark a new assessment should be conducted to validate the need to continue providing the service.  At the ten year mark another assessment would be conducted to determine the level of protection and if protection should extend five more years.  At which time the fifteen year mark the protection would end.

 

 

Nick

 

McGovern, G. (2011). Protective Operations: A Handbook for Security and Law Enforcement.  Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=89550ef5-f53d-495f-89a0-6259bf28a262%40pdc-v-sessmgr02&ppid=pp_Cover&vid=0&format=EB