Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department Adds New Security Unit

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department added a new security unit, the Dignitary Protection Unit, made up of 20 deputies.

The unit's job is to provide security for government officials appearing at public events in Oklahoma County.

Sheriff John Whetsel said he decided to create DPU after the Tucson shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

"It just made sense", said Sheriff Whetsel, "We have the resources to make every attempt to prevent a similar attack from happening in Oklahoma County, so I got the ball rolling and created the DPU".

So far, the unit has covered a visit by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and a congressional detail for Oklahoma Congressmen Tom Cole and James Lankford.