Booming economy boosts demand for bodyguards in LV

Phil Levine

Tuesday, March 14, 2000 | 11 a.m.

Fame and fortune can exact a high toll on privacy and personal security.

That's why denizens of the world of wealth and renown -- both visiting and residing in Las Vegas -- often pay top dollar to maintain a secure barrier between themselves and those wishing them harm.

Recognizing the high-end market demand for protection against the dark side of success, a growing number of Nevada entrepreneurs are offering bodyguard protection services for a cross-section of public and private figures.

Take the case of Guy Marzola.

Three years ago, Marzola decided to utilize his 15 years of professional security experience as the foundation for his own bodyguard service firm in Las Vegas.

A former security coordinator at the Lady Luck hotel-casino, Marzola and partner Cathy Jackson established SII Security International targeting executives -- both foreign and domestic -- as their primary clientele.

Today, the company has almost two dozen bodyguards on tap at anytime, with an additional 40 trained professionals ready to fill in as needed.

All guards must complete a 25-week training course, designed to realistically recreate environments found "on the street."

Despite the physical nature of his business, Marzola could accurately be described as disarmingly charming.

In fact, that's essentially what he does for a living.

"I'm a real bull shooter. The difference is, unlike a lot of others, I back my bull up," Marzola said, pulling back his sport coat to reveal two well-concealed pistols. "But in general, my job is to protect clients without confrontations, if possible.

"I'm really a lover, not a fighter," he says with a smile.

Still, Marzola's office wall is decorated with a potpourri of weapons, many confiscated from "bad guys" apprehended by his firm.

His clients are a cross-section of domestic and international power players, spanning the gamut from corporate executives to Middle Eastern royalty.

"About 50 percent of our clients are from outside the country," he said. "They're mostly referred to us by word-of-mouth. It can sometimes be a challenge dealing with clients from different cultures, but we have a very strong working relationship with the (U.S.) State Department.

"If we're protecting someone from the Middle East or China, we'll often talk with a State Department diplomat who knows that part of the world."

Fluent in five languages -- he was born and raised in Italy -- Marzola still often relies on translators to assist with international clients.

"The only problem with that is you end up having to protect them too," he said.

Although many Las Vegas firms offer security services, few specialize in providing highly-trained bodyguards.

R.T. Smith, owner of Las Vegas-based Investigative Specialist Inc., says his firm is one of the few long-term Las Vegas companies often called on to protect the rich and famous.

"The only people I hire are ex-secret service and ex-police officers who've already learned all they need to know about personal protection," he said. "We have a long track record of reliability and professionalism that few (bodyguard) firms can equal."

Smith said the rising demand for personal security in Las Vegas parallels the city's explosive growth.

"Our business has at least quadrupled since we first started in 1988," he said. "We've had to continually grow our company to keep pace with the growth in demand for services."

Smith said ISI's clientele is comprised of a combination of wealthy individuals and famous celebrities; he declined to identify clients, citing professional discretion.

"It's about a 40/60 mix," he said. "The majority of our assigned clients tend to be famous, well-known people. However, we also do a lot of work for wealthy people looking for estate protection."

Although crime is far from rampant in Las Vegas, Smith said several high-profile cases have helped to highlight the need for personal protection.

"The stalking cases involving Jerry Lewis and Steven Spielberg brought a lot of attention to the issue," he said. "In fact, since those cases, there's been a lot of people who've contacted us after seeing ghosts ... stalkers who weren't there."

Nevada companies providing bodyguard and security guard services, such as SII and ISI, must successfully apply for a Private Patrol licence from the Private Investigator division of the Attorney General's office.

State statistics show the agency issued 95 Private Patrol licences in 1999, up from 83 licences issued a year earlier.

The Attorney General's office defines a Private Patrolman as someone "engaged in the business of employing and providing for other persons watchmen, guards, patrolmen, bodyguards and others for the purpose of protecting persons or property against fire, theft, vandalism or illegal entry."

Applicants for private patrol licences must have five years private patrolman experience, and pass a State Board examination; licensees also must obtain at least $200,000 in liability insurance.

Las Vegas' penchant for attracting celebrity-studded award shows means local bodyguard firms are often called upon to play key roles in staging successful events.

"For example, we were recently involved in providing bodyguard services during the ESPY Awards show," said Smith.

"Before many celebrities visit Las Vegas, their business agents will call here and arrange for bodyguard protection. Our reputation stretches beyond Las Vegas, and that's important in this business."

Smith and Marzola say their company's fees vary widely, depending on the danger presented by each assignment.

"Normally, we charge about $65 per hour, but we do a risk evaluation on each assignment that determines how much we charge," said Smith.

Adds Marzola: "Our rate can go up to $150 an hour, or more if there's a lot of risk involved."

Quality control in the bodyguard business means ensuring that those charged with protecting the rich and famous are themselves free from criminal leanings.

"We do a thorough background check on anyone we train to use as a bodyguard," said Marzola. "We run a 50-state background check that usually takes a full three days."

However, the intense scrutiny isn't limited to would-be bodyguards.

"We check our clients out as much as we do our (staff) people," said Smith.

Marzola agrees.

"We're careful who we select as clients," he said. "It's important that we not be associating with anyone who is -- or plans to -- break the law. Our job is to protect people, not help drug smugglers."

Despite their industry's best efforts, misperceptions about the bodyguard industry remain. Marzola says the root of much of the problem can be summarized in two words: Kevin Costner.

"That movie (My Bodyguard with Whitney Houston) showed what not to do to be a successful bodyguard," he said. "You should never get personally involved with a client."