PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — This week's Everyday Hero is trying to repair some of the mistrust between the community and law enforcement.
- Michael Hawkins is this week's Everyday Hero
- Hawkins is a School Resource Officer at Disston Academy in Gulfport
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Disston Academy School Resource Officer Michael Hawkins, or "Hawk" as many of the kids like to call him, has served the community for over 37 years. Before becoming a school resource officer, he served for over 32 years with the St. Petersburg Police Department and committed 30 of those years to the District's School Resource Officer Program — longer than any other Pinellas County officer.
For Hawkins, it's all about trust.
"I think the key word in this job is trust. There's so much mistrust between communities and law enforcement all over the country that we want to get it back to where people trust law enforcement because there's some people like me — I'll have your best interests in mind," he said.
On July 8, Hawkins, who is also an ordained minister, received a lifetime achievement award from the Florida Association of School Resource Officers for extraordinary accomplishments while serving the school and the community.
"I keep saying I'm honored. I'm blessed. I thank God for it. I am truly blessed to have a great upbringing. My mother is the stronghold. She went on 9 years ago, but I know she is happy," Hawkins said.