History of the U.S. Customs “Rover Teams”
Starting in 1982, Prospero Ellis conceived and implemented the “Rover Concept” utilizing Observational Techniques and Behavior Analysis, at U.S. Customs Miami. Subsequently, he was directed by then Commissioner of Customs William Von Rabb, to implement the concept at all major U.S. Customs ports of entry as well as the Mexican and Canadian borders.
Then, throughout the years (1985-1995) many foreign Customs Departments, Drugs Task Forces, and Military Investigators (OSI, CID and NIS) from the three military branches. sent their Officers to Miami, to receive Rover training in order to become acquainted with this revolutionary concept. Upon returning to their respective countries and incorporating the Rover Concept’s techniques with their own established interdiction methodology, they have endured massive success in their law enforcement endeavors.
These training programs were most successful and many countries today, utilize these techniques in their ongoing approach to Drug Smuggling, Illegal Immigration, Airline Security, Airport Security and General Law Enforcement procedures.
Deployment of Rover Teams – The Americas and The Caribbean
In March of 1996, after 30 years of a successful law enforcement career, Supervisory Inspector Prospero M. Ellis retired from U.S. Customs and founded Rovertech International Inc. a Security & Detection Consulting firm, which provides systematic and quality training, guidance and services to both domestic and foreign Customs, Immigration, Agriculture Departments, DEA, State Police / Highway Patrol Highway Interdiction Teams, Domestic Airport Police Drug Interdiction Teams, Law Enforcement Agencies, Airlines Security Personnel, Airport Security Screeners, Cruise Ship’s Security and Private Industries Risk Management Teams.
Supervisory Inspector (R) Prospero M. Ellis dedicated his life teaching and coaching officers on how to refine their “Detection Skills”. through usable, field tested techniques! The Miami Herald News called Prospero Ellis “the Human Lie Detector”. If you watch the show “To Catch a Smuggler” on National Geographic, you will see systems, procedures, techniques, and tools developed by Prospero M. Ellis that are still relevant today.
His ability to teach officers the “Detection of Deception, is summarized on the Knowledge of the intent, coupled with the Consequence of the Detection”! “Every “Violator”, before they attempt to break your rules, they own the knowledge of their intent, so based on that knowledge they are consciously aware of the consequence they would suffer if detected. Therefore, consciously and/or unconsciously their body language will betray them, either verbally or non-verbally!
Our Behavior Analysis and Observational Techniques Training will assist your personnel, to increase their confidence level and prepare them to spot & identify those individuals involved in illegal activities relevant to your mission.
Let Us know, how we can help you…
How Rovertech Evolved
Today, Rovertech builds on that legacy with a broader mission:
- Helping organizations detect risk earlier
- Improving communication between HR, Operations, and Security
- Reducing friction that weakens performance
- Supporting compliance without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
- Strengthening culture so people report concerns before they become incidents
Our work now combines the original behavioral foundation with modern priorities such as:
- Insider risk mitigation
- Workplace violence prevention
- Security Management Systems (SeMS) implementation
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) strategies
- Operational assessments and security program implementation
- Leadership alignment and culture development
Why Clients Engage Rovertech
Most organizations do not fail because they lack policies.
They fail because warning signs are missed, teams operate in silos, supervisors are unsure what to escalate, HR is left carrying security issues alone, and security programs do not connect to day-to-day behavior.
Rovertech helps close those gaps.
We work with organizations that want to:
- Improve compliance and documentation discipline
- Reduce insider risk and reporting blind spots
- Strengthen frontline awareness without profiling or overreaction
- Build trust between management and employees
- Create practical systems that leaders can actually sustain
Leadership & Credibility
Rovertech’s current work is led by Omar Bolivar, a security consultant and instructor with more than three decades of experience across aviation, maritime, cargo, supply chain, and transportation environments. His background includes Security Management Systems implementation, behavior detection program support, aviation security training, cargo compliance inspections, maritime security assessments, and insider risk program development.
This combination of legacy interdiction expertise and modern organizational risk strategy is what makes Rovertech different:
we integrate security with culture, leadership, and operations.
What Makes Rovertech Different
Field-Tested Foundation
Built from operational experience, not abstract theory.
Human-Centered Security
We help leaders recognize that behavior, communication, trust, and accountability are part of the security system.
Cross-Functional Approach
We connect HR, Operations, Security, and leadership instead of treating them as separate conversations.
Practical Implementation
We focus on what teams can actually use: assessments, training, reporting structures, escalation pathways, and measurable follow-through.
If your company serves aviation, maritime, logistics, infrastructure, or transportation-related environments, this webinar will help you better understand:
- Compliance responsibilities that often land on HR
- How workplace violence, insider risk, and culture breakdowns connect
- What Security Management Systems and enterprise risk thinking look like in practice
- Where HR managers can improve efficiency, reduce liability while improving employee trust
Security is not just about stopping bad outcomes. It is about building systems people trust, follow, and strengthen.
Join the webinar and see how Rovertech can help your organization reduce risk while strengthening culture.