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Protecting the 

Diplomatic Community 

Bureau of Diplomatic Security United States Department of State 
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Department of State Publication 9888 Bureau of Diplomatic Security 2002 Released April 2002 
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Protecting the 

Diplomatic Community 

When the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and Consular 

Relations were signed, they specifically provided for the extraordinary protection of all foreign officials resident in the United States. 

Within the Department of State, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security’s Diplomatic Security Service has the primary responsibility to ensure that protection is extended to all foreign officials and their missions across the United States. The Protective Liaison Division provides this protection and related services. 

Special agents in Washington and 22 other cities throughout the United States are available at any time to provide liaison services and security assistance to all foreign officials residing in the United States. As we have learned through tragic experience, terrorism can strike any target, at any time. It is more urgent than ever that we operate in an atmosphere of mutual understanding to actively defend against international terrorism. By establishing and maintaining open lines of communication, we can work together to provide a secure environment for the daily conduct of official business. 
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Liaison with Diplomatic Security In an age of increased security awareness within our society, the means to immediately communicate importance, security-related information to appropriate individuals in the host government is of vital important to every diplomatic mission operating abroad. In this regard, the Protective Liaison Division maintains the names and contact numbers of at least two foreign mission employees who are designed as security liaison representatives. 

As personnel changmissions are urged tof security contacts Liaison Division. Thand cooperation gretimely exchange of sinformation between and the Department need arises. It is equally importasecurity liaison be mthe Diplomatic Secuconsular officials seWashington, DC, arepossible, liaison sholocal or regional lev

(A list of DSS offices in the United States is provided in the back of this pamph
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Article 29 “The receiving State shall treat (the person of a diplomatic agent) with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom, or dignity.” Article 22(2) “The receiving State is under a special duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of the mission against any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of peace of the mission or impairment of its dignity.” In discharging the responsibilities listed above, the Protective Liaison Division stresses that the U.S. 

Government will “take all appropriate steps” to protect resident diplomats and their missions. The level of protection will be commensurate with the threat that exists against that diplomatic mission in the United States. Difficulties have arisen in the past when discussing the level of protection to be afforded a resident foreign official. This is primarily due to differences in interpreting threat levels and deploying police resourcesWhile the threat level against an official may be high in his or her own country, the threat potential in the 

United States is often quite low. 
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The Protective Liaison Division is eager to maintain the full confidence and cooperation of all resident foreign officials and to provide the maximum protection possible with the resources at our disposal. Responding to the Threat The level and measure of protective security provided by the U.S. Government to any resident foreign official or diplomatic or consular mission is based primarily on the threat that exists to the mission or the individual while in the United States. The threat level is determined by compiling all available information into a threat 

is continuously updamission in the Uniteassessments are of vtance to the ProtectiDivision in determinfor any extraordinarsecurity measures. The information conthreat assessment is cataloged by the resof Diplomatic SecurIntelligence and ThrAnalysts maintain cwith all domestic anintelligence-gatherin
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be contacted in Washington, DC 

at (202) 895-3600 during normal business hours. After-hours and emergency notifications can be made 24 hours a day to the Diplomatic Security Service Coordination Center at (202) 647-7277 or 1-800-979-9331. 

Protective Security Assistance To provide foreign missions with protective security, the Protective Liaison Division works very closely with the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division. These uniformed officers provide protection to all foreign missions in the United States 24 hours 

a day, 7 days a week. With a sophisticated communications system and a patrol-response capability, officers can respond within minutes to any call for emergency assistance from a foreign mission. Uniformed officers are 

deployed in several ways. 

Fixed posts: If the threat level again

your embassy warrants it, one Secret Service Uniformed Division officer will be assigned to a fixed post outsidyour mission. This officer is relieved by others at regular intervals to maintain a high level of vigilance. His or her presence assists in creatin
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a safe area for the entry and departure of diplomats and visitors and acts as a visual deterrent against minor crimes. However because this posting is highly visible and offers little protection against a determined terrorist, it is not always recommended for every mission. Mobile patrol response is often more effective. Vehicular and foot patrols: Most foreign mission protection is provided by a combination of motor and foot patrols which give close scrutiny at frequent and unpredictable intervals throughout the day and night. Uniformed officers are assigned 

to patrol established as an effective deterattackers who are unthe times of the freqMobile response: T

Service Uniformed Dmaintains a 24-hour response capability. the-art law enforcemofficers can respond to any situation that property. Emergency canine teams speciaexplosives detection
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Among other security-related topics, the Protective Liaison Division can provide security assistance on the following general subjects. Personal Security Precautions Emergency Reaction Plans Physical Security Standards Residential Security Standards Crime Prevention Services Surveillance Recognition Foreign missions interested in receiving assistance on any of these topics are encouraged to submit a formal request through the State Department country desk officer with whom they normally consult. This request should outline particular security concerns and, as much as 

possible, list specific objectives. The name of the official who will act as thmission’s coordinator for the seminar should be included. Of course, missions should continue to informalldiscuss any security concerns they have during the routine visits of the Protective Liaison Division officer with whom they normally deal. Defending against terrorism requires constant vigilance and open communication. By working together in a spirit of mutual cooperation, foreign missions across the United States and the Diplomatic Security Service can create a safe environmenin which to conduct diplomatic and consular business. 
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Diplomatic Security Offic

Atlanta Resident Office
77 Forsyth Street, Suite 320
Atlanta, GA 30303
tel (404) 331-3521
fax (404) 730-2410
Boston Field Office
Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Bldg.
10 Causeway Street, Suite 1001
Boston, MA 02222
tel (617) 565-8200
fax (617) 565-8222
Chicago Field Office
Ralph H. Metcalf Federal Bldg.
77 W Jackson Street, Suite 2121
Chicago, IL 60604
tel (312) 353-6163
fax (312) 886-7895
Dallas Resident Office
Earle Cabell Federal Bldg.
1100 Commerce Street, Room 762
Dallas, TX 75242
tel (214) 767-0700
fax (214) 767-3544


Denver Resident Offic755 Parfet Street, SuLakewood, CO 80215tel (303) 236-2781
fax (303) 236-2783
Greensboro Resident 

1801 Stanley Road, SGreensboro, NC 2740

tel (336) 547-4292
fax (336) 547-4298


Honolulu Resident OfPJKK Federal Buildin300 Ala Mona, Room Honolulu, HI 96850
tel (808) 541-2854
fax (808) 541-3433
Houston Field Office
Mickey Leland Federa1919 Smith Street, SuHouston, TX 77002
tel (713) 209-3482
fax (713) 209-3470

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New York Field Office
1 Executive Drive, Suite 500
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
tel (201) 944-3787
fax (201) 944-5106
Philadelphia Resident Office
600 Arch Street, Room 3218


Philadelphia, PA 19106
tel (215) 861-3370
fax (215) 861-3369


Phoenix Resident Office
Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse
Suite 435
401 W. Washington Street, SPC 45


Phoenix, AZ 85003-2151
tel (602) 364-7842
fax (602) 364-7845


San Diego Resident Office
555 W. Beech Street, Room 222


San Diego, CA 92101
tel (619) 557-6194
fax (619) 557-5919


San Francisco Field Office
235 Pine Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94104
tel (415) 705-1176
fax (415) 705-1187
San Juan Resident Office
La Torre de la Plaza
525 F.D. Roosevelt Avenue
Suite 115
Hato Ray, PR 00918
tel (787) 766-5704
fax (787) 766-5706
Seattle Resident Office
915 Second Avenue, Suite 3410
Seattle, WA 98174
tel (206) 220-7721
fax (206) 220-7723
St. Louis Resident Office
Robert A. Young Federal Bldg.
1222 Spruce Street, Room 9.107
St. Louis, MO 63103
tel (314) 539-2721
fax (314) 539-2746

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