Terrance W. Gainer served four years as chief of the U.S. Capitol Police before taking a job with Congress as the sergeant at arms of the Senate.
What prompted you to return?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked. It was a complete surprise. I just thought it would be a nice opportunity to try to continue some of the things I had been doing as chief and to try to work closely with the senators. It’s a pretty wonderful opportunity. I like this place. It’s the seat of government, the dome just sparkles in the sun, and I like protecting it.
What exactly does the sergeant at arms do?
It’s much like a city manager. We run information technology for the Capitol and the 450 district Senate offices around the country. We also run the Senate Post Office and the Page program for the Senate. We oversee emergency preparedness, the carpenter shop, the beauty shop and the barbershop. The title is actually Senate sergeant at arms and doorkeeper, which involves enforcing rules on the Senate floor and overseeing the doorkeepers.
As a longtime law enforcement official, how has your job changed in the post-Sept. 11 environment?
I think in yearsgone by, the sergeant at arms position was probably more partisan than it is now. The last few sergeants at arms have had a strong law enforcement background because of the security responsibility.
Have you ever evicted anyone from the Senate floor?
During the recent vote on granting D.C. a vote in Congress, there were some very interested city officials and members of the House who were down in the well of the Senate during the vote. Only the floor staff and Senators are allowed there, so I had to very gently tell them they needed to go to the back of the chamber. There is a lot of protocol and history here, and part of the job is to help them maintain that. You try to maintain the dignity of the chamber.
