By Jennifer Gomori, POJ Editor

Law Enforcement Regional Training Academy (LERTA) graduate Hayden Hughes had always planned on becoming a law enforcement officer, but the impact of COVID on the profession put a pause in his career path. That didn’t stop Hughes from excelling in the academy and being honored with the Collin Birnie Scholarship Award.

Hughes graduated with a 90.85 percentile and was selected from among five pre-service cadets for the Birnie Award in a graduating class of 31 cadets on Dec. 19, 2024. 

The $500 Collin Birnie Scholarship Award, which is sponsored by the POLC, is named in honor of the fallen POLC Executive Committee member. It’s given twice yearly at the discretion of the police academy to graduates who have not been sponsored by any police agency. Qualifying cadets must pass the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification test and meet MCOLES employment standards to become certified Michigan Law Enforcement Officers.

“Hayden showed academic and physical fitness excellence,” said LERTA Director Lt. Eric Rodgers. 

“Honestly, it was a surprise to me. I had no idea that I would be the one selected for it,” Hughes said. “It’s definitely an honor! It shows that your commitment and education can pay off by doing what is right no matter what.”

The 29-year-old plans to use the funds to help pay off bills. “Once I went into the police academy, I stopped working. My wife does not work so we’ve been living off of what we saved up,” he said. “It definitely was difficult. We had a plan. We saved up and, luckily, I have a very supportive wife so she’s helped out.”

Hughes began his service career in the U.S. Navy, from 2014 to 2020, as an electronic technician specializing in communications. “In 2017 to 2019, I was deployed in Bahrain doing communications for all units to deploy in the Middle East," he said. "From 2019 to roughly 2020, I was on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. I was on the Elite Communications deployed to the Arctic Circle and another deployed to Middle East.” 

At that time, Hughes was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Casper Borgess Hughes, a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force. But Hayden’s long-term plan was to follow his oldest brother, Travis Hughes’ career path. “My oldest brother is a police officer in Pell City in Alabama. He’s SWAT and K9 down there,” Hughes said. “I think he’s going on 5 years.”

“Originally, when I joined the military, the whole idea was to go into law enforcement,” Hughes said. “Then COVID hit, and after being newly married with a child, with how everything was going with law enforcement, I didn’t believe it was the right time when I got out. I ended up at Consumers Energy doing communications for all their vehicles.” 

From 2021 to 2024, he worked for Consumers Energy performing maintenance and ensuring the vehicles' (dispatch) radios were programmed and ready to use whenever needed. He began taking courses for an electrical engineering degree at the University of Arizona, “when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do from 2022 to 2023.”

“Slowly, in that career, I realized I really do want to go into law enforcement,” he said. “Then, in 2023 to 2024, I was at Baker College and my credits transferred over so that’s how I got my associates in Criminal Justice. While I was in school, I was still working full-time and I was full-time in school. It was all online. Especially with two kids, there were plenty of long nights.”

His hard work and dedication paid off when Hughes was hired by Davison Township Police Department, a POLC-represented unit, beginning his law enforcement career on Dec. 20, 2024.

Hughes also acknowledged the hard work the instructors and staff at LERTA put in while dealing with the recent loss of former LERTA Director Lt. David Livingston. Livingston lost his battle with cancer in July 2024 and the next academy began in September.

“I really want to thank the instructors. I know it was last minute for them after the passing of previous director Lt. Livingston,” Hughes said. “I’m sure they were stressed out, but they didn’t show it at all. They definitely knew what they were doing and were able to do it in a timely manner. Lt. Rodgers and Sgt. (Joe) Hall stepped up, and they were able to accomplish it.”