Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond
Sowder is a detective for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the commander for the Dignitary Protection Unit.He can’t tell you much about his methods, but Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective David Sowder says he does his best to keep “the idiots” at bay.
Mostly, though, he wants democracy to feel safe again for congressmen, county commissioners and constituents.
That’s the main duty of the dignitary protection unit, a Secret Service-like unit established last year by the sheriff’s office and headed by Sowder.
The job involves more than just making sure “the crazies” — as Sheriff Jim Hammond puts it — don’t pose a danger when a public official is in the area, pressing the flesh, giving speeches or holding town hall-type meetings. The actual work starts far earlier than that.
“If we have to put our hands on somebody, we’ve screwed up,” Sowder said. “Our advance team probably didn’t do a good job.”