Rockwall man finalist to be next Greenville police chief

A Rockwall man with law enforcement experience in several North Texas communities is a finalist to be the next chief of police in Greenville.

Andrew Hawkes, currently the police chief from Sunnyvale, appeared during a meet-and-greet Tuesday evening at the Fletcher Warren Civic Center in Greenville.

Hawkes lives in Rockwall and was sworn in as Sunnyvale’s first police chief in October 2019 after having served as chief for the city of Jacksonville, Texas. Hawkes has a more than 30-year career in law enforcement, previously serving as lieutenant of the Operations Division for the Collin County Sheriff's Office from 2001 to 2016, police officer/canine officer for the Grapevine Police Department from 1998 to 2001; deputy sheriff for the Rockwall County Sheriff's Office from 1992 to 1998; and a communications operator for the Rockwall Police Department from 1990 to 1991.

During Tuesday’s meet-and-greet, Hawkes noted that he grew up in Greenville, and attended Greenville High School his junior year before graduating from Rockwall High School.

Hawkes is one of five finalists for the position, alongside acting Greenville Police Chief Will Cole, Quinlan ISD Police Chief Steve Walden, Heather Morris, a retired assistant police chief in Houston; and Christopher Smith, an assistant chief deputy with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

The Greenville City Council announced its search for a new police chief in mid-March after Chief Scott Smith retired on Feb. 2. Cole has been functioning as acting chief since then.

More than 50 applicants were submitted for the position. No timetable has been announced for filling the post. The Greenville City Council announced it was starting the search for a new police chief in mid-March.

Scott Smith retired as Chief of the Greenville Police Department on Feb. 2.