Albany Police Chief Hawkins Departs for Michigan After Reforms | The Locally Times
Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins will depart in December for a Michigan role, following a tenure marked by reforms, though city records show conflicting mayoral and police leadership in early 2026.
Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins is scheduled to depart the Albany Police Department at the beginning of December to assume the role of Police Commissioner in the Warren Police Department in Michigan. An announcement from Albany Fire and Emergency Services, dated February 15, 2026, details this transition. Chief Hawkins, appointed in September 2018, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Albany Police Chief in over 40 years. His tenure in Albany included leading the department through the implementation of policing reforms. The February 15, 2026, News Flash from Albany Fire and Emergency Services indicates that these reforms were recommended by the City’s Policing Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. During this period, the Albany Police Department addressed challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which records show corresponded with a decrease in shootings and a significant increase in illegal guns recovered. The department also initiated or supported several programs, including Pastors on Patrol, Men on a Mission, and the NYS GIVE Initiative. Chief Hawkins oversaw the establishment of New York State’s largest Crime Analysis Center within the APD Headquarters. Further initiatives included an internationally-recognized Therapy Dog Program, the Community Liaison Partnership designed to involve residents in police academy recruit training, a paid Police Cadet Program, a Civilian Auxiliary Program, and a program to integrate social workers into police operations. Infrastructure upgrades to police facilities, such as the construction of a new 911 dispatch center, were also completed under his leadership. Prior to his appointment in Albany, Chief Hawkins served as Chief of the Southfield, Michigan police department, a position he attained in 2012. His educational background includes a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Science degree. ## Conflicting Leadership Records in Early 2026 Records from Albany Fire and Emergency Services present conflicting information regarding the city's top leadership in early 2026. The February 15, 2026, News Flash announcing Chief Hawkins' departure attributes the announcement to Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Chief Hawkins. However, another News Flash from the same source, also dated February 15, 2026, details the conclusion of a snow emergency on January 29, 2026. The available records do not provide an explanation for this discrepancy in leadership identification or clarify the roles of Mayor Sheehan, Mayor Applyrs, Chief Hawkins, and Chief Cox during this period. ## Unresolved Questions and Future Outlook Chief Hawkins' scheduled departure in December means the announcement of his move to Warren, Michigan, precedes the actual event by several months. The records do not specify the exact date of his departure within December. Furthermore, the city's plan for appointing a successor to Chief Hawkins is not detailed in the available documents. The absence of information regarding a new police chief leaves questions about the continuity of the reform efforts and programs initiated during Chief Hawkins' tenure. The conflicting records concerning mayoral and police chief leadership in early 2026 also raise questions about the stability of city governance during a period of significant police department transition. The records do not provide information on how the city intends to address the noted discrepancies in its public communications regarding its leadership structure or the process for selecting a new permanent police chief.