Today we are speaking with world-acclaimed security and executive protection expert, Kent Moyer, CEO of World Protection Group (WPG).

Q: How did you get started in executive protection?

A: I started at the Playboy Mansion; my job was to protect Hugh Hefner and his family. This gave me a perspective on protecting celebrities and high net-worth individuals, especially in Los Angeles. Too many executive protection companies put out poorly-trained teams and don’t have an understanding of how to protect the client’s privacy, confidentiality, and reputation. That’s a big part of why I founded the World Protection Group, as well as its sister company: 001.

Q: What is different about 001?

A: 001 is the “Gold Standard” of executive protection. It’s inspired by luxury brands such as Armani, Porsche, Bulgari, Chopard, Tiffany & Co., & Pagani, which I studied at both The Wharton School and at SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, Italy. I also attended the Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center and have had 001 employees trained in the same principles.

Q: The World Protection Group and 001 are known for being among the first security firms to make use of drones. Can you tell us a bit about this?

A: After seeing how drones were being used in law enforcement and emergency services, it was obvious how they had the potential to be game changers in executive protection work, in particular in advance work, intelligence, risk/vulnerability assessments, investigations, and surveillance. We employ several pilots (including myself) and have a fleet of DJI Drones
to deploy for clients.

Q: Tell us how you added drones to your company services?

A: We operate under FAA part 107 governing commercial drone use.

We use the best drones in the market (DJI drones) and all of our drones are properly insured for liability. In addition to having drone operators on staff, I personally completed the best training with Dart Drones and have been certified as a drone pilot by the FAA. We also provide services for law enforcement departments which do not have drone capabilities.

Q: What is your opinion about law enforcement use of drones?

A: Law enforcement needs to use drones. It’s that simple.

For example, it was little over a year ago that there was a mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas. The gunman fired 1,100 rounds, killing 59 people and injuring 851 more. If a drone (and drone pilot) had been available, it could have been deployed within minutes, flown to the 32nd floor where the attack was coming from, identified the number of shooters and weapons, and communicated this information to the police command center or counter-snipers. Drones should be in every patrol car and routinely used by private security. Drones can and will save both civilian and law enforcement lives by giving authorities a fast and safe look at an active situation, allowing them to come up with the best response plan using more complete information.

“AFTER SEEING HOW DRONES WERE BEING
USED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY
SERVICES, IT WAS OBVIOUS HOW THEY HAD
THE POTENTIAL TO BE GAME CHANGERS IN
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION WORK.”

Q: You’ve been protecting LA Celebrities for years now. How would you recommend a celebrity go about choosing an executive protection company?

A: 1. Make sure the company has a CA PPO license and has at least $10 million armed liability insurance.

2. Select a company that has a system to track intelligence when conducting executive protection operations.

3. Ask about the company’s technical support, such as encrypted communications, risk/vulnerability assessments, and drones.

4. Ensure that all executive protection agents have formal training in executive protection. Many times, off-duty cops or former military people are being used who have no formal training or education about executive protection.

5. Make sure the company has in-house executive protection training.

6. Check that all executive protection agents have medical training. They should be certified in CPR, AED, and First Aid, or be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician.

7. Do not hire executive protection agents directly. Always hire a professional security company which specializes in executive
protection.

8. Hire a proactive company that also can help you create an online anonymous lifestyle for you and your family. Removal of your address, phone numbers, e-mails, etc. is an important component of executive protection.

9. Ensure your executive protection firm has threat management capability and that their protocols involve you reporting any
inappropriate correspondence immediately to the executive protection corporate office.

10. Find an executive protection company whose details should be done in a covert vs. a high-profile manner.

This is article is first seen on Los Angeles Confidential, January 2019 Issue