As Protection professionals, we emphasize readiness, layered security, and proactive planning—especially when it comes to safeguarding high-profile or high-net-worth individuals. But even with growing public threats, many of our clients still don’t see the urgency.

Over the weekend, former NFL star Richard Sherman shared a disturbing account: three armed individuals broke into his home near Seattle while his wife and children were inside. He was held at gunpoint. Thankfully, no one was physically harmed, but this was a deeply traumatic experience.

At the time of this writing, no arrests have been made. The FBI has acknowledged an increase in robberies and break-ins targeting famous athletes. Whether Sherman was explicitly targeted or not, the message is clear—high-profile individuals are being watched, and the threat is real.

I’ve spoken with several clients in my network about this. Some listened, but many weren’t overly concerned. There’s still a mindset among some public figures that “it won’t happen to me.” Incidents like this should make us all pause and reconsider how we communicate risk.

This raises some important questions for the Executive Protection community:

• How do we have meaningful conversations with clients who feel invincible?

• What steps should be taken now to help mitigate growing threats, especially at their residences?

• Are we seeing an increase in complacency when vigilance is more important than ever?

For those of us in the field, this isn’t just about responding to emergencies. It’s about educating, building trust, and helping clients understand that proactive security measures aren’t just for “other people.