The Warren Police Commissioner is Eric Hawkins, JD, who was sworn in on December 2, 2024 after a national search by Mayor Lori M. Stone’s administration.1City of Warren. Mayor Stone Announces Appointment of Eric Hawkins as Warren Police Commissioner He is the highest-ranking official in the Warren Police Department and runs daily operations, sets enforcement priorities, and manages personnel.
What the Commissioner Does
Chapter 7, Section 7.8 of the Warren City Charter establishes the commissioner’s authority over the department. The job covers overall operations, ensuring officers meet municipal standards, and setting the department’s strategic direction.
Budget work is central. The commissioner allocates funding for equipment, vehicles, technology such as body-worn cameras and drones, and specialized training. The department draws from the city’s general fund and is one of the largest line items in Warren’s annual spending.
The commissioner also writes department policy, including use-of-force guidelines, investigative procedures, and conduct rules. Hiring recommendations and disciplinary actions sit with the office as well, though they operate within external guardrails.
Labor disputes are one of those guardrails. Contract impasses between the city and its officers fall under Michigan’s Public Act 312 of 1969, which requires binding arbitration for unresolved negotiations in municipal police and fire departments.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws – Act 312 of 1969 The commissioner cannot resolve a major labor conflict alone; an outside arbitrator does.
How the Commissioner Is Appointed
The mayor appoints the police commissioner. For the 2024 vacancy, Mayor Stone ran a national search aimed at candidates with command experience and a leadership approach that matched the administration’s priorities, particularly on recruiting and long-term direction.1City of Warren. Mayor Stone Announces Appointment of Eric Hawkins as Warren Police Commissioner The City Council has no vote on the appointment itself, though it holds financial oversight through the annual budget.
Candidates typically bring extensive command-level experience. The role calls for someone able to run a large municipal department, work within civil service rules, and navigate city politics.
Eric Hawkins’s Background
Hawkins holds a law degree and has led police agencies in both Michigan and New York.3City of Warren. Police Department – City of Warren – Section: Commissioner Before Warren, he served as the 25th Police Chief of Albany, New York, from 2018 through late 2024, where he worked on community-police relations and reorganized the department.
Warren’s official description of his role emphasizes officer training, wellness, and building a force that is skilled, resilient, and emotionally intelligent. Those are the priorities Hawkins and the mayor’s office have set for this chapter of the department.
Who Oversees the Commissioner
The commissioner reports directly to the mayor, who evaluates performance and can remove the commissioner when priorities diverge. The City Council reviews and approves the department’s budget each year, so requests for added funding, staffing, or new initiatives have to be justified in public session.
A separate layer of accountability comes from the Police and Fire Civil Service Commission, established under Michigan’s Public Act 78 of 1935.4Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws – Act 78 of 1935 – Firemen and Policemen Civil Service System It oversees hiring, promotions, and disciplinary appeals for sworn officers on merit-based standards. Officers facing suspension or discharge have the right to a hearing, with written charges, formal answers, testimony, and appeal rights built in. The commissioner’s personnel decisions have to fit inside that framework.
How the Seat Came Open
The current leadership follows a sudden change at the top. William Dwyer was separated from the commissioner role on March 5, 2024. Mayor Stone’s public statement said Dwyer had announced an intent to retire but had not agreed on a firm date, and that the two had reached an impasse over hiring practices. She said it was “essential for members of my administration to have a united vision on major operational decisions” and moved police hiring authority back to the city’s Human Resources Department.5City of Warren. Statement from Mayor Lori M. Stone on Police Leadership Change
Deputy Commissioner Charles Rushton, a career Warren officer who had risen from patrol to high-level command, served as acting interim commissioner during the search.5City of Warren. Statement from Mayor Lori M. Stone on Police Leadership Change He held the department together for about nine months until Hawkins was sworn in.