The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

OFFICER OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 1998

SPECIAL AGENT JOHN J. FRESE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has announced the selection of Special Agent John J. Frese, of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, as its Officer of the Month for December 1998.

"Special Agent John J. Frese is a courageous and compassionate professional," declared NLEOMF Chairman Craig W. Floyd. "He has represented his profession and his country in an outstanding manner while working some of the toughest assignments throughout the world. Serving at U.S. embassies around the globe, Special Agent Frese has a wide range of important responsibilities, including personnel protection and embassy security. He has often had to perform these duties under extremely difficult circumstances and at great personal risk."

A former U.S. Special Forces Captain, Special Agent John Frese became a law enforcement officer in 1985. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous awards, including the U.S. State Department's Award for Valor in 1996. But according to Ambassador William Twaddell, what really makes Special Agent Frese exceptional is his dedication not only to the American citizens he protects, but also to the citizens of the embassy's host country. "He is always thinking of the entire community, the host country and its citizens, as well as the Americans," Ambassador Twaddell said. "He is a wonderful officer and a citizen member of any community he is in. His professional skills and his calming, sensible presence are the reasons people get through very serious and dangerous circumstances."

While assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia, Special Agent Frese exhibited multiple acts of heroism and courage. With the resumption of factional fighting, which virtually destroyed the city of Monrovia, Special Agent Frese personally organized and carried out the rescue of over 250 American citizens and hundreds of other expatriates trapped by the intense fighting that engulfed the entire city with little warning. Time and time again, Special Agent Frese, standing alone outside the Embassy grounds, initiated discussions and attempted to reason with these fighters in order to defuse deadly confrontations. It was especially tense during the first five days, before the U.S. military arrived, and Special Agent Frese handled the security details himself. In addition to taking care of the Americans in the Embassy compound, Special Agent Frese ensured the delivery of food and water to thousands of refugees stranded by the fighting.

On another occasion, while assigned to Kuwait following the Gulf War, Special Agent Frese arrived to find a country that lay devastated and dysfunctional after seven months of Iraqi occupation. With no embassy security capability and no governmental security forces, Special Agent Frese was able to re-establish embassy security, while also providing protection for the Ambassador himself. At the same time, he made arrangements for the Kuwaiti National Guard to provide additional embassy security. These efforts proved crucial when the U.S. military announced its withdrawal from Kuwait before public security was fully restored.

Throughout his career, Special Agent Frese has been given some of the most difficult embassy assignments in the world, including Beirut, Lebanon, and Nigeria. David G. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, says, "The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the law enforcement and security arm of the U. S. Department of State, has provided distinguished service to the United States for more than 80 years. Diplomatic Security Special Agent John Frese represents the best that the Bureau has to offer. He is a true American hero, and very deserving of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Award."