Bodyguards for Abuse Victims: Extending a Safety Net

Elijah Shaw is one of the most recognizable celebrity bodyguards in Hollywood. Seen with such stars as Naomi Campbell, Usher and Tara Ried, Shaw has made quite a name for himself in personal protection and security. Under contract with 50 Cent after his recovery from near fatal gunshot wounds, Shaw's company Icon Services acted as a much needed bodyguard staff for the rapper while he made his comeback.

Shaw has managed to build himself and his business of providing bodyguards for celebrities and public figures into a household name. That is, if your household is the type to use a bodyguard from time to time. However, Icon Services has expanded its reach to encompass those that are not so famous but in desperate need of bodyguard protection. Shaw and his company were able to see past the glitz and glamour of Hollywood at those less fortunate and saw a way to use what they had contribute to the greater good.

ICS Safety Net, an extension of Icon Services, provides bodyguards to escort women into possible dangerous situations, such as their homes while they collect their personal belongings. So many women make the conscious effort to abandon a dangerous situation, but get hurt in violent acts of retaliation when they try to leave. ICS Safety Net helps ensure that these women can get out of dangerous, potentially fatal situations, by allowing a bodyguard to accompany them to work, home, court hearings and custody battles.

Inspired by his brother who does work with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence in Iowa City, Shaw wanted to use his successes and resources to give something back to women and children that were not as fortunate as the actors his bodyguards protect. He saw that providing the same bodyguards to battered women as he does to Fortune Five Hundred executives and runway supermodels was a good way to share what he had. By working closely with local women's shelters, ICS Safety Net and its bodyguard services are helping to make it known that it is not acceptable to abuse a spouse or child, and to help women see that they have other options.

Shaw and Icon Services currently work closely with two shelters to assess the needs of women for personal protection. Bodyguard escorts are arranged through these shelters for women and children that have come forward as abuse victims. In addition to supplying bodyguards, Icon is also offering free assessments of security systems for any abuse shelters. The resources that ICS Safety Net offers, both in security assessments and bodyguard protection, are entirely nonprofit. Even the staff that performs the work is there volunteering their time for the cause.

It is painful to think that in such a progressive world, there is a need for trained bodyguards and security technology to keep women and children from being abused by the ones that have vowed to protect them. However, it is comforting that there are people and organizations such as this that recognize the needs of the community and pitch in to do their part. In a perfect world, there would be no need for bodyguards. Until that day comes, Elijah Shaw and ICS Safety Net are contributing what they can where they see that there is a need.