LITTLE EGG HARBOR – The members of the Little Egg Harbor Township Senior Advisory Board did more than pose for a photo with retired Police Chief James Hawkins. They made sure he understood how much his presence meant to them at their most recent meeting.
Hawkins officially retired February 1 after 28 years with the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, including the last four years as Chief of Police.
For many of the seniors gathered to honor him, he was not just the township’s top law enforcement officer. He was the chief who showed up month after month to answer their questions.
Ken Miller, chairman of the Senior Advisory Board and a 22-year Little Egg Harbor resident, remembers when Hawkins first stepped into the role. “The first police chief I met was Chief Buzby,” said Miller. “When he retired, Chief Hawkins came in. It was in 2021.”
Miller recalled meeting Hawkins at an incident in his neighborhood and deciding to extend an invitation. “We were talking, and I asked him if he wouldn’t mind coming to the senior advisory meetings. We have one meeting a month, every month except December. I asked him if he wouldn’t mind coming in to talk about things in town.”
The response he gave was interpreted by Miller as both immediate and warm. Hawkins accepted the invitation and became a regular and welcome addition to Senior Advisory Board meetings.
“He kept to the monthly meetings for a number of years,” said Miller. “I guess then there wasn’t enough news to talk about every month, so he changed it to every two months.”
Even with the adjusted schedule, seniors said Hawkins remained accessible and engaged. “He still covered all the HOAs,” Miller added. “They always had a lot of questions for him and were always applauding him.”
Miller said that beyond his official role, Hawkins was someone residents genuinely liked. The Senior Advisory Chair said he would miss his presence at the meetings.
The Senior Advisory Board consists of 10 members, most representing homeowners associations throughout the township. Meetings rotate through different HOA clubhouses, giving residents an opportunity to raise concerns directly with township representatives.
For Hawkins, that meant walking into rooms filled with familiar faces and sometimes tough questions. For the seniors, it meant having direct access to the person leading their police department.
Hawkins was sworn in as chief in 2021 after rising through the ranks of the department. His 28-year career reflected both longevity and consistency in a town that values knowing the people who serve it.
With his retirement effective February 1, the Little Egg Harbor Township Committee appointed Jeff Martin as the new Chief of Police at its January 8 meeting. Martin joined the department in January 2000 and brings more than two decades of experience within the same agency. Like Hawkins, Martin rose through the ranks.
For the seniors who gathered to honor Hawkins, the moment was simple and sincere. They thanked a chief who showed up when invited and stayed long enough to make a difference.
