Sometimes, they just have the perfect look for the job ;-)

Again, Swiss VIP protection detail (DPR) with Sig 553.

Swiss VIP protection team operator, training on Geneva's airport with a SIG 553.

HK MP5 with class ;-)
Swiss Police protection detail at work (DPR).

French Police GIPN operator.

A couple of months ago, I had the privilege to spend some time with the guys from Geneva's Police VIP protection detail (DPR).
I believe I am the one who should be grateful, but today they presented me with a beautiful knife, engraved with my name and the unit logo. How cool is that ? Thank you gentlemen ! (I'll try and take a picture of the knife when I have time).

"Tools of the trade" for DPR operators :

- SIG 553 LB riffle (5.56 mm) with Trijicon ACOG 4x32 TA31F / vertical grip and bipod / one point tactical sling.

- 9mm GLOCK 19 pistol with tritium sights.

Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Poutine, protected by Swiss DPR agents during an official visit at the UN in Geneva.

VIP extraction aboard a Swiss Air Force Super Puma helicopter for those Police officers from the close protection details unit (DPR). Armed with HK MP5 and Glock 19.

Swiss Police DPR hand to hand / self defense training in their Dojo.

After being published is German magazine "Kommando", my story and pics about Swiss Police DPR team (close protection detail) is now featured in French "Police Pro".

GIPN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Police Nationale) officers. The first one is armed with a Brugger & Thomet MP9 submachine gun + Aimpoint Micro T1 red dot.

The other great Swiss team that I have followed this summer is Geneva's DPR (Détachement de Protection Rapprochée / Close Protection Team). A small but very effective and talented group of operators.

You can see the pics in this month's issue of Kommando.They will also be published next month in French Police Pro.

 

This one is very different from what I normally publish.

A nice "malinois" dog (Belgian Sheppard ?) from Geneva's K9 bomb squad.

After all, he is also a "special operator", very faithful and useful to his team mates !

And yes, you can tell that he is Swiss from his collard ;-)

I have just spent 2 days in Ireland, and I can confirm the guys are up to their reputation !

Great lads, very professional, very tough, a great sense of humor  and a fantastic sense of hospitality.

And yes, they made me drink a lot of Guinness beer ;-)

I hope to be back there soon for some interesting story with a top notch unit.

Something completely different for a change...

You'll see much more about my Legion trip but this one is a Gendarme from Swiss Police (Geneva). He was part of an escort during a VIP protection exercise.

I have to keep a balance between the "green" and the "blue" guys ;-)

French Police officer from BAC (brigade anti criminalité), armed with a B&T GL06 40 mm launcher. The launcher has been widely adopted by french law enforcement agencies for crowd control.

Police officers from BAC 69 (Brigade Anti-Criminalité de Lyon).

French Police Nationale officer from "BAC" (Brigade Anti-Criminalité).
As a photographer, it's always interesting to work with officers who have that kind of "movie actor" look and personality.

I had never worked with a Bomb squad / NEDEX unit before, but I think the heavy protection suit makes for some interesting pics.

It is another story that you'll read later this year in the magazines I am working with.

Kinda reminds me of Apocalypse now;-)

There is a very interesting unit behind this one...

But I can't give you too much details yet !

It was another absolute thrill to spend the day with them, in and around this helicopter.