With the recent death of Sean Taylor still fresh in the minds of professional athletes, Jamaal Tinsley of the Indiana Pacers, narrowly escaped a similar fate when his car was shot at outside an Indianapolis hotel. Tinsely’s story is all too familiar for many pro athletes. Tinsely and his friends were verbally accosted by a group of individuals outside an Indianapolis nightclub. As Tinsely and his friends drove away, the group followed them and opened fire on them. Fortunately no one was killed in the incident although there were some injuries. Immediately following this incidents, Tinsely hired a “bodyguard” at the urging of the team. When interviewed for the NYT article, Tinsely called having a bodyguard “a blessing.”
Tinsley’s story is unfortunately a common tale these days involving professional athletes who have become targets for criminals attracted by their wealth. Many of the incidents involving crimes against pro athletes have common themes. These themes are, public displays of wealth, in uncontrolled public spaces where alcohol is served, in the early morning hours, and as most of you will recognize as a sure sign of danger, an arrival or departure from these venues.
Based on the NYT article, it seems like Tinsely might be someone who needs close protection (and a healthy does of common sense) but what was glaringly absent in this article are the proactive measures that should be taken regardless whether someone has executive protection – personal protection or not. For example, the easiest way to reduce personal vulnerability is to reduce profile. Clearly these individuals are being targeted for their wealth but their tendency to put themselves in circumstances where they are more likely to be exposed to violence is contributing to their targeting. I’m not suggesting they live like monks but some measure of common sense could definitely reduce or at least mitigate their risk.
The second element I would have liked to have read about is an effort by the Pacers (and all other professional sports teams for that matter) to provide some personal security awareness training to their players. For example, in Tinsely’s case, rather than drive to a hotel, drive to a Police station. These are all basic personal security techniques that most soccer mom’s seem to know and understand. I’m not talking anything radical here. For example, how many of these athletes have received training on responding to carjackings? Simply put, security awareness training which develops proactive behavior is far cheaper than hiring close protection.
Hiring a bodyguard is certainly an option, and believe me, I’m not trying to put any of us out of work but as professionals I think you’ll all agree that unless the protectee understands the threat and is willing not to contribute to that threat, then a bodyguard will not change the underlying condition which led to hiring personal protection in the first place.
Tinsley Is More Careful Since Escaping Attack – New York Times
Miami Protection.com – Miami Florida BodyGuards – security guard services in Miami and south Florida
