Attorney General Lockyer Mourns Passing of O.J. "Bud" Hawkins

(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today issued the following statement on the November 4, 2005 passing of O.J. “Bud” Hawkins:

“Bud was a truly gifted individual who dedicated his life to serving the public through law enforcement. Bud, who worked for the last 10 state Attorneys General, was a trusted advisor to me and also a good friend. His passing is a great loss for the thousands of law enforcement leaders in California and throughout the country who benefitted from his service and wisdom. My prayers, as well as those of all his friends and co-workers, are with Bud’s family during this sad time.”

Bud began his distinguished law enforcement career in 1936 with the Los Angeles County Department of Forestry. He then worked for the U.S. Border Patrol and the U. S. Coast Guard Intelligence Unit.

In 1946, Bud began his nearly 60 years of distinguished service with the California Department of Justice (DOJ). He served as the Special Law Enforcement Liaison to the Attorney General, personally representing the Attorney General with chiefs of police and county sheriffs to address problems of mutual concern to state and local law enforcement. In that role, Bud participated in and led countless state law enforcement meetings that resulted in solutions and innovations that have improved the quality of service public safety professionals provide. Over his career at DOJ, Bud served as Assistant Chief, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement; Assistant and Deputy Director, Division of Law Enforcement; and as Special Assistant to the Sacramento County Sheriff for Governmental Affairs.

Between 1963 and 1966, Bud founded the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) Advisory Committee. Under his leadership, CLETS became a national model for the collection and instantaneous dissemination of vital law enforcement information that sworn peace officers rely on each and every day to do their jobs and protect public safety. Today, the CLETS system processes more than 2.5 million messages a day from the men and women in law enforcement working on the front lines. At the time of his passing, Bud continued to serve as the Chairman of the CLETS Advisory Committee.

Bud also represented Attorney General Lockyer before the California State Sheriffs’ and California Police Chiefs associations. His ability to represent DOJ in any professional capacity and forum was uncanny.

In 1993, the Law Enforcement Data Center was renamed in Bud’s honor. It is now known as the Hawkins Data Center, within DOJ’s Division of California Information Services, in recognition of his many years of service to the law enforcement community throughout California.

As a pioneer in law enforcement technology, Bud was the founding Executive Director of SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. To honor Bud’s contributions, SEARCH instituted the annual O.J. Hawkins Award for Innovative Leadership and Outstanding Contributions in Criminal Justice Information Systems, Policy, and Statistics in the United States.

On June 29, 2005, Bud turned 90 years old and celebrated his birthday with many attendees from within DOJ and other statewide and local law enforcement agencies.

Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, and is survived by his son, Gary, and Gary’s wife, Mindy.