By Bonnie Culverhouse
A Bossier City man who comes from a family of local law enforcement says he always wanted to be a police officer. A disability kept him from fulfilling that dream, but 40-year-old Nathan Ford, who is deaf, has found another way to give back to the law enforcement community.
Six months ago, Ford began making gun holsters, magazine holders and handcuff casings. Last week, he made a gift to all Minden Police Department detectives and Chief Steve Cropper.
“He uses a mold and makes them from Kydex,” Ford’s spokesperson and cousin Brian Sparks said. “You heat it up and have a vacuum system that sucks it according to whatever mold you’re using. Then he polishes it and finishes it out.”
“It’s pretty cool,” Cropper said of his holster.
Ford, who is an expert lip reader, said he also makes wallets.
“At Christmas, he made Kydex holsters for Nerf guns for kids,” Sparks continued. “Those sold pretty good.”
“I always wanted to be a police officer,” Ford said. “I wanted to do this to help.”
Ford’s grandparents are Gene and Jane Jones – Gene, a long-time sheriff’s deputy.
Ford has started a business called Surdus Defensor for his items.
“Surdus is Latin for ‘silent,’” Sparks said. “So, it’s Silent Defender.”
Ford has several gun molds, but if a specially-sized holster is wanted, he will need the firearm to make a cast. He is working on a chest holster now and may do shoulder holsters in the future.
For more information about Ford, (text only) 318-510-4985.
