14-00000 104-10130-10472 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

UNCLASSIFIED "TERNAL ONLY CONFENTIAL SECRET

SUBJECT: (Optional) ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET

FROM: Chief, Central Cover Staff Nonofficial Cover Branch 1-A-20

EXTENSION NO.

DATE 26 MAR 1963

TO: (Officer designation, room number, and building) DATE OFFICER'S INITIALS RECEIVED FORWARDED COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom to whom. Draw a line across. column after each comment.) 1. Office of Security (Attn: Mr. Bannerman) G-E-31

1. R83 For your information 2. bol. Edwards

2 Apr SE 3. Im. White

20%. 2.1.2 Sice meish

493364

4. 7M-hangan Place wachsenbunt file. 5.

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15. FORM 3-62 610 USE PREVIOUS EDITIONS SECRET CONFIDENTIAL INTERNAL USE ONLY UNCLASSIFIED 14-00000 29 RAT 1909 CS-2793 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: The Wackenhut Corporation 3280 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Coral Gables, Florida

1. Mr. Bannerman, Security Office, arranged through Chief, CCS for the writer to meet Mr. George Wackenhut, President of subject, to explore its potential for cover support. At 10:30 a.m., on 14 March 1963, Mr. Wackenhut, Mr. Wes Reynolds, and I met at Mr. Reynold's home, 3809 37th Street, North, Arlington. Mr. Reynolds apparently represents Wackenhut in the Washington area, although I did not gather that the firm is actually operating here at present. Mr. Wackenhut and Mr. Reynolds, both, are ex-FBI agents.

2. Wackenhut started his firm in 1954. In 1961 it was reported to have 1100 employees and anticipated 1961 sales in excess of $5 million. At present it has offices in Miami, Coral Gables, Tampa, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Buffalo, Denver, Los Angeles, San Jose (Calif.), Honolulu, San Juan and Ponce, Puerto Rico. Wackenhut freely states that he trades on the reputation of the FBI by publicizing widely the 21 ex-FBI agents, including two former Assistant Directors of the FBI, in his management.

3. The Operating Divisions of the company and their services are described in a Wackenhut brochure as follows:

Investigative Division..

Performs all types of investigations for attorneys, insurance companies, banks and other businesses; sets up internal audit systems to prevent embezzlements, and investigates personal back- grounds of prospective executives, business partners and associates.

Scientific Services Division

Conducts pre and post-employment, pre-promotional and speci- fic lie detector examinations for business and industry; special- izes in technical security and investigative techniques, scientific detection devices, and electronic and mechanical security methods and equipment, and performs electronic "sweeps" to counter business espionage through the detection of electronic intrusion attempts. YRS 14-00000 -2-

Internal Intelligence Division Specializes in exposing and controlling inside thefts that may range from employee pilferage, through embezzlement of thousands of dollars, to highly valuable industrial secrets.

Central Clearing Division Assists personnel and security directors to screen quickly the backgrounds of present and potential employees through the massive files of The Wackenhut Corporation.

Retail Store Protection Division Increases net profits by reducing inventory shortages through the control of internal and external losses with security programs designed to meet the client's specific needs.

Training Services Division Provides specialized training programs for security, fire fighting, investigative and other personnel of business organiza- tions and professional groups.

Industrial Security Division Provides the essential security services that are required by all companies seeking or handling government classified contracts; assists management in disaster and emergency planning.

Fire and Safety Division Supplies ambulance services, first aid crews, Wackenhut fire- men fully trained in the technical field of industrial and muni- cipal fire fighting and equipment, and safety surveys, systems, and educational programs.

Guard Forces Division Selects, investigates, trains and supervises the uniformed and plain-clothes guards who protect your operations; also provides uniformed receptionists and guardettes; makes physical property surveys to determine security requirements and establishes security systems and controls.

1. Mr. Wackenhut wants to expand abroad, in view of his successful venture into Puerto Rico. However, he has no definite plans as of the present and seemed to be seeking from CIA covert 24 sponsorship for entry into areas of interest to us. He is pre- pared to furnish personnel himself or to permit integration of 24 Agency nominees.

2. It is not apparent to me that there is any significant market for Wackenhut's services in foreign countries, except possibly among American businesses with physical plants overseas. The nature of these services, I would presume, would make rather difficult acquisition of the necessary occupational permits in many countries. The potential for clandestine intelligence acti- vities would be too obvious to host governments, and the emphasis 2/RS 14-00000 - 3 -

on former FBI personnel probably would enhance such suspicions, particularly in Latin America where "FBI" means "intelligence" since its WW II activities there.

1. CCS/NC on occasion receives requests for advice to busi- ness organizations as to setting up security systems at overseas installations. We recently referred a request of this type, involving a major oil company, to the Physical Security element of the Security Office. Conceivably, the Agency might make some arrangement to advise Wackenhut of such requests, providing our own Security Office is satisfied as to Wackenhut's competence. We 24 could then place an Agency representative, if desired, in the team2y dispatched overseas by Wackenhut should his company successfully secure the contract.

2. Wackenhut said he would be willing to dispatch teams to set up personal security systems for foreign chiefs of state whom the Agency wants protected. He is amenable, in fact, to any reasonable application of his capabilities to Agency problems. He would be willing to negotiate financing in equitable propor- tions in the event an overt operation, set up at Agency behest, were not financially self-susteining.

3. Wackenhut impressed me as a clean-cut, energetic, ambitious young business man who is obviously proud of what appears to be a superior organization of its type. He is interest/in profits, but it is my impression he is sincerely eager to do what he can to assist the government and feels that CIA offers one possible oppor- _tunity. Incidentally, he appears somewhat younger in person then in the pictures appearing in the promotional material given the writer.

4. Copies of this memorandum are being furnished those Agency components which might have an interest in utilizing subject com- pany. Inquiries may be directed to the writer. 21.03 10 FRED R. YOUNGBLOOD Chief, CCS/C URS