Safety is the new luxury in Gotham.
A new app called Protector will offer New Yorkers on-demand access to armed ex-military and law enforcement to chauffeur them around town.
“Ultra high-profile individuals like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have dedicated full-time protection teams in place, but for most people, navigating security options is more challenging than it should be,” Protector app founder and CEO Nick Sarath told The Post this week.
The app, which launches Tuesday in NYC and Los Angeles, costs $200 an hour for a Protector and a driver.
But the price can skyrocket depending on the client’s “mission,” and whether additional security, a full motorcade, or other specialized measures are necessary, said Sarath, 25.
Clients can even choose how they want their Protectors dressed – business formal, business casual or “tactical casual.” Vehicle choices include Cadillac Escalades and Chevy Suburbans.
When the app is first released, users will need to book the service a day in advance, but eventually, even faster, the CEO said.
“Whether you need someone to blend in with your entourage or serve as a visible deterrent, the choice is yours,” said Sarath, who said he created the app to simplify personal protection.
Two influencers had first crack at the app last week — and used it summon a pair of Protectors in black SUVs to pick them up at Newark Airport, after flying in from Los Angeles for New York Fashion Week.
“We just ordered bodyguards to pick us up from the airport,” Josie Francis and Nicole Agner, both 29, nonchalantly captioned the now-viral Feb. 7 video showing their bodyguards escorting them to waiting SUVs.
“Uber could neverrrr,” they wrote in the clip, which has been seen over 10 million times.
All Protectors have licenses to carry concealed weapons — and are packing while on duty, Sarath added, declining to provide further detail.
That’s comforting, according to the influencers, who confessed in another video they’ve “never felt more safe in our lives,” thanks to the foursome of gunslingers trailing behind them.
“As two girls in their twenties, experiencing NYC in this way was incredible — we’ve never felt safer in the city. We’ve never experienced a service like Protector and honestly, we’re already having withdrawals,” Francis and Agner told The Post this week.
The bodyguards are selected based on “their years of experience and specialized units in which they’ve served,” said Sarath, a former Facebook product designer and app creator.
They include former members of the Air Force Pararescue, SWAT and SEAL teams, and Special Operations Forces, he said.
“During each assignment, my number one goal is to keep our clients safe. That means assessing potential threats before they happen, anticipating risks before they escalate, and making sure whoever I’m protecting can move through their day without worry,” said a Protector named Jim, who declined giving his last name for security reasons.
Being a Protector is a “natural fit,” explained Jim, who said he draws on his nearly 30 years of experience as a Los Angeles police officer, and former Marine Corps combat sniper.
“People hire us because they need to feel safe and secure without it affecting their lifestyle. If they can focus on their life while I handle their safety, that’s mission accomplished,” he said.
