Maurice Hawkins
Maurice Hawkins
Transit Police Officer – Recruit
RETIRED U.S. MILITARY
Maurice Hawkins’s unconventional path to becoming an RTD police officer made complete sense
Growing up in Denville, New Jersey, all of Hawkins’ role models were members of law enforcement. “Denville was a real tight-knit community. I played football, and the coaches were the town’s police officers. I got to ride around in the cop cars. A lot of those people I looked up to, and still talk to today, and it really sparked my interest in being a police officer.”
At the same time, he also was interested in the military. “My great-grandfather was an Army vet, my cousin is a retired Navy air traffic controller, it’s a family business. I knew I belonged there too.”
Hawkins’ mom valued education and wanted him to go to college. Hawkins had other plans. “I wanted to know everything about the military. In highschool, I would sneak out and go to recruiting offices. I took the ASVAB practice test to see what types of jobs were offered.”
After his mom caught him with a recruitment water bottle, Hawkins consented to his mother’s wish and attended a community college in Pennsylvania to study criminal justice. However, after a year and a half, he dropped out. “I moved in with my dad, and he gave me the choice of getting a job or going into the military. Obviously, I chose military.”
With an initial contract of two years, being stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs as a diesel mechanic, Hawkins signed a subsequent two-year contract when he learned his unit was going to Germany. For those two years, he was able to travel, visiting Hungary and the Czech Republic, and becoming a Specialist along the way.
“I was able to lead a whole platoon. It was great. But I felt stuck. Because of my initial position as a diesel mechanic, I could only move laterally. I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to be in law enforcement, be a K-9 handler or a military police officer, but it wasn’t shaking out.” After four years, Hawkins left, returning to Colorado Springs with his wife, who he had met in the military.
“In Colorado Springs, we had my wife’s family. Our daughter was born medically fragile, needing to stay in the NICU for six months, so staying close to her and to her doctors in the Springs was very important to me.”
Hawkins applied to police departments across Colorado and in neighboring states. The rejections from the departments left him discouraged. He asked his mom for advice, as she had become a nurse after leaving the military, and advised him to follow the same career path. Ultimately, Hawkins enrolled in the nursing program at Pikes Peak State College, receiving certification as a certified nursing assistant. Despite this, Hawkins sought a different vocation.
“I wanted to be part of something where I could support a community, that would help my family, that would make my daughter proud of me. There was still a part of me that wanted to be a police officer, and so I entered the college’s criminal justice program.”
Hawkins learned about the police academy while pursuing a degree in criminal justice. He entered the police academy unsponsored, eager to learn and open to opportunities. That’s where he learned about RTD’s Transit Police Department. “There was a corporal who told me about RTD and its growing ranks. I researched it, realized it wasa great opportunity, had lots of room for growth, and so I applied and was hired in December 2023.”
Working as an RTD police officer for the past year and a half has changed Hawkins’ life. He loves the diversity of the job, being able to travel from one city to another, and the opportunities for education. “They encourage self-growth and self-education. That’s a huge part of why I like it. I’ve been to undercover classes, and FieldLeader Training (FTL), and I’ma CPR instructor. I love to learn and improve.”
Hawkins reflects back to what it was like to transition from being in the military to becoming a civilian. “When I first got out, it was hard to find a job. Some military jobs don’t translate well to civilian life. Seeing you don’t qualify for a job is discouraging, but RTD is different. RTD is a wonderful place for a person just getting out (of the military), whether you’re a mechanic like I was or a police officer.”
“RTD has done a lot for me. Because of this place, I’m able to take care of my family, provide for my daughter. If you want to feel secure, and feel like you are being supported, you should give RTD a try, because it’s a really great place for that.”
“RTD has done a lot for me. Because of this place, I’m able to take care of my family, provide for my daughter. If you want to feel secure, and feel like you are being supported, you should give RTD a try, because it’s a really great place for that.”