Dignitary Protection
The men and women of the Dignitary Protection Unit, just as the name implies, provide
personal security to high-level officials of the state of Alabama. The role of the
Dignitary Protection Unit can be similarly contrasted to that of the United States
Secret Service, which provides protection for the president and vice president.
Dignitary Protection Unit personnel, in addition to being sworn officers of the
Department of Public Safety, receive specialized training in the field of personal
security. This training is comprehensive and involves everything from specialty
weapons and evasive driving techniques to the utilization of the latest computer
technology in identifying and developing information on possible threats which affect
any given principal (the term used to identify the person being protected). Much
of this training is provided by the Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
and other state police agencies.
Prior to 1975, there was no statutory requirement for the state of Alabama to provide
security for state officials, including the governor. Governor James E. “Big
Jim’ Folsom (1947-1959) was the first Alabama governor to have a trooper assigned
to him for the purpose of providing security. Later, during the term of Governor
John Patterson (1959-1963), two troopers were assigned to this function. Also during
Governor Patterson’s administration, two guard houses and a perimeter fence
were installed at the executive residence to further facilitate the provision of
security. It was not until the attempted assassination of Governor George Wallace
in 1972, however, that the need for a formalized security unit was recognized.
On October 7, 1975, the protection of certain state officials and visiting dignitaries
became law in Alabama. Pursuant to §36-33-1 and §36-33-2, Code of Alabama, 1975,
the Department of Public Safety is charged with the duty of protecting the person
of the governor and the First Family and the executive residence. Additionally,
the department is charged with the duty of protecting those in direct line of ascension
to the Governor’s Office. These include the lieutenant governor, president pro tem
of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives, and the attorney general.
Upon enactment of this legislation, the Executive Security Unit operated as a unit
within the Highway Patrol Division of Public Safety. In March 1988, Executive Security
was transferred from the Highway Patrol Division to another division of Public Safety,
the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and referred to as the Special Investigations/Security
Services Unit. In January 1991, Security Services was transferred from the ABI Division
to the Administrative Division. The unit was renamed the Executive Protection Unit
and reported directly to the department’s assistant director. On April 20, 1995,
the unit’s name was changed to the Executive Security Unit.
In October 2003, the director of Public Safety created a new and sixth division
within the department. This division was named the Protective Services Division,
comprising the Executive Security Unit and the State Capitol Police Unit. The creation
of this division consolidated all of Public Safety’s personal and physical security
personnel in one division for the purpose of coordination and efficiency of operations.
In May 2007, the Executive Security Unit was renamed the Dignitary Protection Unit
to ensure uniformity with other states’ identification of personal protection units.
In addition to providing protection to certain persons as required by Alabama law,
the Dignitary Protection Unit also provides security for and aids in the security
of visiting dignitaries such as foreign heads of state, visiting governors, members
of the U.S. Congress, and other persons who have known threats made against them,
when charged to do so by the director of Public Safety.