Bowling Green is holding its breath and leaning into deep sorrow this weekend as the Warren County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of court security officer Scott Hansen, a veteran lawman and 20‑year U.S. Air Force retiree known for his steady calm and service‑first heart.
Hansen, who joined the sheriff’s office in 2023 after a long Air Force career as a C‑5 loadmaster, was on duty Monday morning at the Warren County Justice Center when he suffered a sudden medical emergency. Deputies and co‑workers acted fast, rushing him to a Nashville hospital where he remained under care through Friday afternoon. Officials say he passed away due to complications from that emergency.
While the exact cause of his medical crisis has not been released, those who knew him best point to a life defined by calm readiness and commitment. Colleagues described Hansen as someone people could rely on when things got tense in the courthouse corridors or the early morning calm before the civilian rush. His presence was steady, his approach rooted in service rather than show.
People who worked with him remember the Air Force veteran not just for his discipline, but for the way he carried himself off duty too — friendly, present, and quick to share a quiet moment of encouragement with anyone who needed it. Outside work, Hansen was a family man and a steady presence in his community, known locally as more than just an officer.
In the quiet aftermath of his passing, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office said his final act of service was deeply meaningful: Hansen’s organs were donated to help others in need, a gesture that brought comfort to many grieving spouses and co‑workers. His son, who serves as a patrol deputy with the same agency, has been surrounded by support from fellow officers and local families.
Plans are now set for a public funeral procession to honor Hansen’s life and service. Saturday morning, vehicles will depart Nashville and travel north on Interstate 65, then through Cemetery Road and U.S. 31‑W Bypass before concluding at J.C. Kirby & Son Funeral Chapel in Bowling Green. The sheriff’s office has invited anyone who can to stand respectfully along the route as a mark of tribute and gratitude.
In a brief message shared with the public, the sheriff’s office offered its deepest sympathies to Hansen’s extended family — including his son and fellow officers — and reminded the community of the quiet strength that defined his life. “Rest easy, 469,” the statement read, a simple but heartfelt farewell to a man whose life was, above all else, about service.
The loss is felt deeply in Warren County, where courthouse doors now seem quieter and a familiar face is gone — but where the example Hansen set will live on in the people he protected, the family he loved, and the community he served.
