Hollowell cites public & private sector experience in bid for Sheriff

By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com

Charles Hollowell is the Democratic candidate for Hamilton County Sheriff. The Reporter spoke to Hollowell about why he is running for this office, why he thinks he is the best man for the job, and why he previously endorsed a Republican candidate in the May 2026 primary.

Hollowell told The Reporter he believes his experience in both the private and public sector make him the best choice for sheriff. He transferred to Indiana from Michigan when working for The Honey Baked Ham Company, where he said he was in charge of a territory with a budget of tens of millions of dollars.

Hollowell told The Reporter he also holds an MBA from Kelly School of Business with a concentration in management and entrepreneurship.

Before joining the Westfield Police Department (WPD), Hollowell was a reserve officer in Clermont, Ind. He said he started working for WPD on Jan. 20, 2003.

“At the city of Westfield, I worked up through all the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant on patrol,” Hollowell said. “Then I became a patrol captain where I was, you know, over day-to-day operations for the patrol division itself. So everything from traffic units, actually I did our first traffic unit, developed our traffic unit in Westfield, because we didn’t have one before I became a captain. Then I became a major of operations over the patrol division, as well as the criminal investigations division.”

Hollowell is currently listed on WPD’s website as a Lieutenant.

Hollowell has faced scrutiny for having endorsed Sheriff candidate Dustin Dixon’s opponent, John Lowes, in the Republican primary. After Lowes lost the primary, Hollowell was appointed to be on the ballot by the Hamilton County Democratic Party.

When asked why he endorsed a Republican candidate, Hollowell said it was because of his relationship with Lowes.

“When I started working in Westfield, John Lowes was my very first Field Training Officer,” Hollowell said. “So he’s one of the first persons that I got to know. When you come into a county and you come into places that are different, I was faced with some biases and a little bit of racism before I became a law enforcement [officer]. So then I started working with John Lowes and he basically treated me with dignity and respect.”

Hollowell followed Lowes up through the ranks. After Lowes became a lieutenant, Hollowell became a sergeant. After Lowes became a captain, Hollowell became a lieutenant under Lowes’ command. He also credits Lowes with his own promotion to captain.

“If I’m not running myself, I’m going to support the person who I know, who I work with, and I know personally who I actually work with on calls,” Hollowell said. “I work night shifts with them. I’ve been on trips with them with training for work. This is a person that I actually know. I know what type of person he is.”

When asked why, after supporting a Republican, he would run as a Democrat, Hollowell said he had already planned to run as a Democrat, though at a later date.

“I wasn’t planning on running until I retired from the city of Westfield,” Hollowell said. “I was planning on running in basically 2029 when I retired from the city of Westfield … I’m a Democrat; I’ve been a Democrat my whole life. “My thing is it’s people over party … At the end of the day, law enforcement should be nonpartisan … When I became a captain, when I was in major operations, it was Republicans that put me in those spots. I refuse to not support people who has the qualities of doing a great job … I’ve been a Democrat my whole life, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t support a candidate that I believe is better prepared for the job than the other person.”

After speaking to The Reporter, Hollowell reached out asking that we also tell our readers the following:

“I support ending the Sheriff’s Office’s voluntary 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and redirecting the Sheriff’s Office resources associated with that program toward local public-safety priorities. My position does not mean disregarding federal or state law. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office will continue to follow all applicable laws, honor lawful court orders, and fulfill legally required cooperation and notification obligations.”

According to his campaign website, “Hamilton County is growing, and our Sheriff’s Office must be prepared to grow and adapt with it. My plan is built around three pillars: Stronger Communities Through Partnership; Professional Public Safety & Effective Law Enforcement; and Accountability, Rehabilitation & Organizational Excellence.” You can read the extensive details of those plans online at CharlesHollowell.com/pillars.