VIP PERSONAL PROTECTION PROGRAM STATUS REPORT

id: 22367
date: 11/2/2004 18:31
refid: 04BOGOTA12533
origin: Embassy Bogota
classification: SECRET
destination:
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.



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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 012533

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2012
TAGS: ASEC PTER
SUBJECT: VIP PERSONAL PROTECTION PROGRAM STATUS REPORT
NOVEMBER 2004

Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood.
Reason: 1.4 (D)


1. (S/NF) The following VIP Personal Protection Status Report
addresses the protection
training program for President Uribe, the Vice President, the
Minister of Defense,
and the Mayor of Bogota.


2. (S/NF) Training:
--Chemical sensitive explosive detection devices, known as
vapor tracers,
have been issued to each of the Presidential Protection
Details (PPD)
Prior to donation of these devices, five individuals from
each protection detail
participated in a one-day training seminar conducted by the
manufacturer,
General Electric.

--In November three VIP protection training courses were
conducted for the
the protective security details of the Vice President,
Minister of Defense,
and the Mayor of Bogota. The two day refresher training
included:
protection formations, motorcade operations, firearms safety,
and practical
shooting exercises.


3. (S/NF) Meetings:
--On November 2, 2004, VIP Personal Protection Security
Advisors and RSO Mark Hunter
met with Vice President Santos to discuss where the National
VIP personal protection
academy will be constructed. VP Santos identified the DAS
basic academy as the best
choice but requested this be discussed withColombian National
Police Commander,
General Castro.

--On November 3, 2004, VIP Personal Protection Security
Advisors and RSO Mark Hunter
met with General Castro, Chief of Colombian National Police
(CNP).
General Castro briefed on the status of the VIP personal
protection program.
General Castro stated the urgent need for this training and a
national academy.
He requested that the CNP be given the opportunity to locate
a police training base.
As of this report the CNP have not been able to identify a
suitable location for the
academy.

--Presidential Protection Detail (PPD) - On November 2, 2004,
VIP personal protection
advisors and RSO Hunter met with Chief of President Uribe's
security regarding general
security issues as well as to introduce the newest VIP
personal protection advisor,
Dale Bulkley.


4. (S/NF) Vice Presidential Protection Detail (VPPD):
--On November 2, 2004, Lt Col. Jorge A. Restrepo, VPPD
Security Coordinator
provided Advisor Bulkley a familiarization tour of the VP
offices as well as
the VP Official residence. Lt Col Restrepo also identified
several physical
security deficiencies. A physical security survey will be
conducted to determine
what physical security upgrades can be accomplished with the
limited funding
available.

--On November 3, 2004, VIP Personal Protection Security
Advisor Bulkley accompanied
Lt.Col Restrepo to the VP's weekend residence located
approximately 30 minutes
outside of Bogot near the town of Tenjo. The weekend
residence, is used
frequently by the VP and his family.

--Major Gustavo Moreno, Shift Leader for the VP's protection
detail reported
that there have been problems with the most recently donated
Level V
armored vehicle, purchased from Blindcorp. He reported that
while the VP was
being driven in Bogota the car died and smoke began pouring
into the vehicle
from the engine. Blindcorp has been contacted to identify
the problem and
make necessary repairs. There have been other complaints
about Blindcorp
vehicles and post is looking into other armored vehicle
companies as
alternatives.


5. (S/NF) Minister of Defense Protection Detail (MODPD):
--A new Agent in Charge (AIC),Major Traslavina was assigned
to MOD's security detail.
The former AIC, Major Romero has been reassigned to Fort
Benning, Georgia
as a guest instructor for one year. Before Major Romero
departed VIP Personal
Protection Security Advisors met Romero and Major Traslavina,
to conduct
an "in briefing" on protective security issues and the
mission of the
VIP personal protection security program.
--Strobe light and siren packages have been installed on all
police motorcycles
assigned to the MOD's protective security detail. This has
greatly enhanced safety
of the MOD's motorcade operations.

--Over the next several months, the MOD will be rotating
personnel from
the MOD's personal protective detail as part of their annual
change of duty cycle.
The new protective security personnel for the MOD are
scheduled for training
in the second VIP Protection Course, beginning January 10,

2005.


6. (S/NF) Mayor of Bogot Protection Detail (MBPD):
--On November 9, 2004, courtesy call was made by VIP personal
protection advisors
to the Capt. Baron, the AIC of the Mayor's protection detail
to introduce VIP
personal protection advisor, Dale Bulkley.

--Level V armored vehicle is now in use by MBPD after sitting
unused for several
months due to registration and insurance issues.
WOOD

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