Author: Michael Rodriguez – Secret-Service « WordPress.com Tag Feed
During Christmas, our family had the privilege of going to the local sheriff’s department location to bring gifts to the deputies on duty, as a way of thanking them for their selfless service to all of us on Christmas day. While most of us were enjoying the usual restfulness of the holiday and preparing for a comfy night at home after dinner, these 15 or so men and women were preparing for another night of protecting the rest of us, even at the cost of their own safety, maybe even their lives. That aspect of protection that they and other law enforcement agencies provide is often overlooked, I think, in view of the fact that sometimes they have to protect us from ourselves.
When I think about that concept of protection and self-sacrifice, at least for me no more vivid image comes up than that of the Secret Service agents who protect the president and other dignitaries. Notwithstanding some recent and unfortunate reports of misbehavior among certain factions within the Secret Service, the substantial majority of these agents dedicate their lives to upholding our laws and protecting our society, some of them protecting the representatives of our free society in our government.
The protective function of the Secret Service started around 1901 after the assassination of President McKinley. Prior to that, the role was primarily investigative and surrounded financial systems, fraud, and similar areas. Today, the protective element of the Secret Service is pretty commonly understood, given the visibility of the sometimes stereotypically-attired agents in certain venues primarily associated with the President. In fact, the Secret Service are charged with protective responsibilities over a fairly broad array of dignitaries, some of which can refuse protection. However, by law, the President of the United States (“POTUS”) and Vice President (and President-elect and Vice President-elect) may not decline service.
These Secret Service agents, often unnoticed and unseen, devote their service and sacrifice their lives to protect (most commonly) POTUS. In this capacity, they literally are dedicated to guarding POTUS from harm, jumping in front of danger and threat and if needed acting as a human shield. Many have done just that in the past. They are constantly on the look-out and vigilant to note threats, allowing POTUS and others to carry out their business confidently and without feeling a sense of danger. They are continually watching over their assigned protectee, alert at every angle of possible harm, and they are willing to lay down their life to ensure their protectee’s life is preserved.