Hypothetical situation: client busted in front of you!

[Local Talent]

Anybody ever had a client get into hot waters (as in arrested) while in their care? Anybody had a client break the law right in front of them? Anybody had a client ordering them to break the law?
Not talking about speeding or parking in a red zone... more along the lines of drug, firearms, or violence-related offenses.
If not, do you have a plan or lines you won't cross?

Paris Hilton's recent arrest in Vegas (felony cocaine possession) just made me wonder (I used to work for a company that covered her).

[usabodyguard]

All of the above, except - Ive never been arrested (for anything for that matter)...

Here is the link to the story -

http://www.socalbodyguards.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36

I've seen so many disgressionary acts I could write a tell-all...
:devil:





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[Geo]

I read USA's post. Great story. I guess I have been lucky so far regarding the situations you are posting about. From others, I have heard some nightmare stuff that people either did or were asked to do by clients. As far as a plan, I set the tone from the start. The companies I work for know that as long as a situation is lawful, legal and ethical. I will attempt to handle it to the best of my ability. To me no client is worth my career because they feel they are entitled to act any way they wish. Geo

[Local Talent]

The companies I work for know that as long as a situation is lawful, legal and ethical. I will attempt to handle it to the best of my ability. To me no client is worth my career because they feel they are entitled to act any way they wish.
I think this sums up the best mindset. Of course, it gets tested pretty often.

I also remember reading that story from usabodyguard on bodyguardcareers.com a while back, for example (good one!), and that kind of situation will definitely force you to make a stand. I'm seeing too many guys working the celebrity circuit these days who would gladly indulge their clients' every whim, and that's crazy. I advise mine (or rather their assistants) as much as possible on what's legal and what's crossing a line, and you can tell that it's often not what they want to hear, but so be it. As Geo said, I'm not throwing away my freedom or career to massage someone's ego and score a short-term brownie point.

Of course, we also have to get things done, somehow, and that can entail some "bending of the rules". I know I have broken a few traffic laws to accommodate clients, for example (speeding or parking). I think we're probably all different as to what's acceptable to us.

A few years back I was part of the detail covering a young actress who was rumored to be in and out of rehab. She had a parade of "friends" and other acquaintances constantly visiting her, and some off-duty guys more perceptive than me shared their concerns that the shadier ones might be have been bringing her narcotics.
Knowing for sure that your client is breaking the law or associating with criminals should be the green light to leave the detail in my opinion. We can't have any part of it.
If it's only a suspicion... I personally start looking for another gig. That particular one was very temporary (often a good thing) so I never got to the bottom of it.

Those ethical decisions will often have to be made in a split second so we have to think about them long and hard before being thrown into the situation. Would you take the fall for a wrecked car because your client is too high to wait for PD? Would you take the gun that he just used and take the rap for him? I know I wouldn't, but it's happened before.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=109369&page=1
http://www2.ocregister.com/articles/nicholas-otten-police-2062789-court-newport

So my M.O. is to never get close enough to the client to know "too much" (knowledge is power, but I don't need that much). Then if/when I start noticing "indiscretions", I start weighing my options. And hopefully I can quit before a line is crossed: where I could be perceived to be an accomplice if I didn't report them, for example.
This all requires a balance of distance and investigation that's easier said than done, of course.

I'll take physical risks (extreme if necessary) to protect a client's life and will lie to anyone but LE to protect their reputation. But I do move away from shady people because I don't want to sink with their ship, nor end up witness to their prosecution.

I just had a discussion with a fellow agent with strong christian beliefs who assured me that he would never lie for anyone, BTW. Personally, I think that throwing the paps onto a wild goose chase is fair, for example. That's the kind of rule-bending I'm perfectly comfortable with, but as I said we're all different.

[Lone Wolf]

I have had clients get into trouble with LE and well honestly they deserved it.. I tried to calm the situation down with the client and the LEO and the LEO was pretty cool about it.. Unfortunately the client didnt heed the options and ended up so to speak biting the bullet...

I have no price in mind that would make me want to break any laws what so ever not to mention the fact that reputation is all that we generally have in this industry..

Needless to sauy the client went to jail that night I walked away shaking my head in disbelief and still got my money.. Oh wait I get paid first, before anything happens...

[Local Talent]

Oh, wait... I did also have a client go to jail on my watch, so to speak: I waited for him, but he never showed. Cops picked him up on his way to the meet and I got paid for just showing up! Dodged a bullet on that one myself that day as the guy was a complete whacko. :eek:
Sometimes, people requesting protection don't tell you exactly who's after them or why...