LEOMINSTER — Students in Street & Practical Law classes at the high school recently received unique insight into one of the best-known federal law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Secret Service.
Special Agent Hayden Dorfman spoke on Nov. 18 about his experiences on a white-collar financial crime taskforce, serving on a Presidential Protective Detail, and guarding foreign heads of state while they visit the United Nations. He was invited to the Leominster High School campus by social studies and law teacher René Lafayette as part of the guest speaker series the educator hosts through his classes.
“A natural component of the curriculum is law enforcement,” Lafayette said. “Last year we were honored to have Col. Christopher Mason, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, and now to have a Secret Service agent come to speak to my students is a great opportunity for them. Who knows, maybe one or more may decide to pursue a career in law enforcement after they learn what the job entails.”
Dorfman mentioned that among the most satisfying aspects of his role as a Secret Service Special Agent was the coordinator of security when over 70 heads of state visited the United Nations. He explained the cooperation that takes place among federal, state, and local law enforcement when, essentially, travel in New York City is disrupted for two weeks. As an aside, Dorfman mentioned that an hour’s visit by the President requires approximately seven days of planning with every possible scenario and possibility reviewed and detailed preparations made.
A graduate of the University of New Haven in Connecticut where he majored in criminal justice, Dorfman is a U.S. Army veteran and was deployed to eastern Europe before retiring with the rank of captain. He has been assigned to the New York City Secret Service office.
