Police Chief Christopher C. Hawkins has resigned his position by way of a letter delivered over the weekend to Town Manager Val Foulds, effective June 28.   Hawkins has accepted a position as assistant police chief in Portsmouth, Va.  
Hawkins was selected and began serving as Police Chief in Colonial Beach on January 3, 2008.  Prior to that he had served for 13 years as a Virginia State Trooper.  Chief Hawkins effectively guided the department through a move to new headquarters.  More recently he led the department through a rigorous accreditation process before the Virginia Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, which resulted in Colonial Beach Police Department becoming one of 79 departments out of 400 total law enforcement agencies in Virginia that have gained accreditation. In a recent report to Town Council, Hawkins was pleased to note that 2009 crime rates have shown a decline in every category.  

Hawkins strived to create an open door for citizens to communicate their concerns with the department by creating online access through the department’s webpage and Facebook account.   Under Hawkins, golf cart patrols and bike patrols were put into action as well as Neighborhood Watch Programs.
With tourist season in full swing and the Fourth of July holiday one month away, the “Playground of the Potomac” has yet another obstacle to overcome.   There is much speculation as to who will be chosen as Acting Chief or how long the selection process will take to name a replacement.  According to Foulds, her recommendation to Town Council will be to hire an “interim” police chief so that the “continuity of the work the chief has started” will continue while a permanent replacement is sought.   
Mayor Fred Rummage was “very sorry to hear of his resignation” and further stated, “We all wish him well.”  Rummage noted that Hawkins was an asset to the town, especially in the area of crowd control, saying “he has been outstanding.  He established a very good program for the Fourth of July in 2008, improved on it in 2009 and made further improvements for 2010.”   
Chief Hawkins has vowed to establish a good transition for the department and to continue to work hard for the citizens of Colonial Beach for the remainder of his time here.