As many already know, ICE Special Agent Jamie Zapata was murdered in Mexico a year ago this month, and his partner was wounded in the incident that has led to the Fast and Furious investigations and controversy.  That it happened seems to be pretty clear but media accounts differ on whether or not they were stopped at a road block or forced off the road by their assailants. We have no additional information on the modus operandi used to commit this crime but an issue has been raised by some media accounts, including this recent one in the Pittsburgh Tribune review that is of interest to all who provide security to others and to those who use armored vehicles to provide security for themselves or others. 

The article indicates that Special Agent Zapata, and his partner Special Agent Victor Avila were operating an armored Chevrolet Suburban, a popular model of armored vehicle used worldwide when they were stopped.  It also alleges that Special Agent Zapata put the vehicle in park and that the door locks automatically unlocked.  The inference is that this was the critical vulnerability that was exploited which resulted in the death of Special Agent Zapata and the wounding of his partner.  Again, we have no special knowledge, have not conducted specific research on the incident nor applied for records through the Freedom of Information Act, but this piece of information is a reminder to us all on a couple of issues:

1. How many of us have established methodology that requires a Principal's doors to remain locked until the protective agent(s) are dismounted and positioned in their dismount formation?  I suspect most practitioners are using this methodology.  There is a reason that we do that and that reason is to reduce that vulnerability and to prohibit another from rushing that door and causing us great concern from the security perspective.
2. How many of us have been effected by the evolution of driver safety mechanisms, computer aided driving issues or changes in various modes of vehicle operations?  I suspect most of us have noted some kind of impact in this area.  The automatic unlocking of doors is cool in a chase car where all want to dismount at the same time but perhaps not so cool in a principal vehicle or in a vehicle we are using for our own security.
3. This is a reminder of a basic and fundamental issue:  When utilizing vehicles make sure you know how it operates, what it can or cannot do and how that impacts your security methodology.  I suspect this problem is exacerbated by those of you who travel frequently and are forced to use rental vehicles often.  I know it impacts us when we travel.
4. Sometimes it is the little things that can get you.  Attention to detail is always valued and we should use this story to refresh our resolve to pay attention to the details and to make sure we know how each vehicle’s operational characteristics impact our methodology.

To read the article go to: http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_782432.html

If you didn’t hear about it, the US Intelligence Community provided the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence with testimony pertaining to a Worldwide Threat Assessment.  Those of you who protect others for a living, especially those of you who travel internationally, support a multi-national corporation or who are just interested in keeping your fingers on that particular pulse may be interested in reading the Unclassified Record of that assessment.  It is posted at: http://www.dni.gov/testimonies/20120131_testimony_ata.pdf 

Review of this testimony indicates a world full of turmoil and some interesting analysis on a post UBL world, the impact of the Arab Spring and what we are apparently now calling Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVEs).  Like we didn’t have enough acronyms to try and remember these days, right?  It is interesting reading and current events that is relevant to all of us.