At last week's Patriot's Day Celebration, Farmington Public Safety Director Bob Houhanisin announced that Commander Cody Hawkins was named the 2024 Officer of the Year. The recognition highlights Commander Hawkins' exceptional dedication and leadership during a challenging time for the department.

In 2024, the department faced staffing shortages, which required reassigning members of the Special Operations Division to the Patrol Division. This created a gap in the investigative bureau, a challenge that Sergeant Hawkins willingly stepped up to address. While performing his duties as a patrol sergeant, he took on the additional responsibility of full-time detective.

"Sergeant Hawkins saw that the department needed investigators, so he stepped up to fill the gap," said Public Safety Director Bob Houhanisin. "He was relentless in his investigations and refused to close out any case without meticulously tracking down every lead possible."

Despite his demanding patrol schedule, Hawkins drafted search warrants, followed investigative leads, developed suspects, and obtained arrest warrants, successfully closing cases that might otherwise have gone unsolved.

Commander Hawkins joined the Farmington Public Safety Department in January 2015. Since then, he has received numerous honors, including four letters of appreciation, one Safe Driving Award, five Unit Citations, five Citations, and two Lifesaving Awards.

In addition to being named Officer of the Year, Director Houhanisin announced that Hawkins' leadership and work ethic have earned him a promotion to Commander. He will be officially sworn in at the city council meeting Monday, Sept. 15, 2025.

"I am truly grateful for Commander Hawkins’ willingness to fill the void," Houhanisin said. "It is my privilege to recognize Cody Hawkins as the 2024 American Legion Officer of the Year."