WARREN (WWJ) — Six months after longtime Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer was dismissed from his position, the city has hired a new top cop.
New Mayor Lori Stone on Wednesday announced she has appointed Eric Hawkins as the city’s new police commissioner following a nationwide search.
Hawkins, who spent 27 years with the Southfield Police Department, including six years as chief, had been chief of police in Albany, New York since September 2018. He takes over from acting Warren Police Commissioner Charles Rushton, who had held the position since Dwyer's dismissal in March.
Stone said Hawkins “has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to public safety, innovation, and community collaboration throughout his distinguished career.”
"We are excited to welcome him as the leader of our police department as we continue to focus on building a safer and stronger community,” Stone said, per a press release.
Warren city officials say during his time in Albany Hawkins “oversaw a department serving a diverse population of comparable sized capitol city” and “played a pivotal role in modernizing the department's operations, including upgrading technology and infrastructure to better serve the community.”
"I am deeply honored to serve as the Police Commissioner for the City of Warren," Hawkins said in the press release. "I look forward to collaborating with the community and building on the strong foundation of safety and trust that exists within this city."
Albany and Southfield both saw a “significant reduction in crime” while Hawkins was chief, according to the press release.
Hawkins earned a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from CMU and an Associate's in Business Administration from Oakland Community College.
He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy Session 234, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar Session 80, Eastern Michigan University's School of Police Staff and Command, the FBI Command Institute for Police Executives. and Central Michigan University's Law Enforcement and School Liaison Program Institute.
Back in March Dwyer said he was “blindsided” and felt he was “ambushed” when he was relieved of his duties, as he had been planning to retire in the near future.
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