KAUFMAN, Texas — Former Kaufman Police Department officer Aubrey Hawkins is being remembered today — 17 years after he was killed in the line of duty while responding to a robbery in progress call.
KAUFMAN, Texas — Former Kaufman Police Department officer Aubrey Hawkins is being remembered today — 17 years after he was killed in the line of duty while responding to a robbery in progress call.
"Aubrey served the citizens of Kaufman with all the passion and energy that any citizen could possibly ask for," stated the Kaufman Police Department. "He was a great man, father, husband, and police officer and he is in our thoughts today."
Hawkins also worked for the Tarrant County Hospital District Police Department for four years and the Irving Police Department for 14 months, according to the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.
On Sunday, December 24, 2000, Hawkins was first to arrive at a robbery in-progress at Oshman's Sporting Goods Store in Irving, Texas. As he approached the rear dock area of the business, he was ambushed and shot to death by the suspects — seven violent Texas prison escapees later identified as the "Texas 7."
It was later learned a lookout during the robbery notified the other suspects of Hawkins' arrival, allowing them to ambush him at the rear of the building.
"Officer Hawkins took the call from a restaurant less than one mile away where he had just finished eating Christmas Eve dinner with his wife, Lori, his son, his mother, and grandmother," according to the Irving Police Department.
A nationwide manhunt for the Texas 7 ended approximately a month later in Woodland Park and Colorado Springs, Colorado, with the suicide of one escapee and the nonviolent capture of the other six, according to the Irving Police Department.
Before their capture, another law enforcement officer, Colorado State Trooper Jason Manspeaker, lost his life in the line of duty in a single-vehicle crash while responding to investigate a sighting of the suspects.
The six suspects were convicted and sentenced to death in connection with Hawkin's murder.
"The cold-blooded murder of Officer Hawkins on Christmas Eve tore at the very fabric of law, order, and decency," reads an in memoriam page on the Irving Police Department's website. "The chaos, sorrow, and heartbreak created in the lives of his loved ones and the community has healed somewhat over time, but the scars of that tragic holiday season and Aubrey's memory will not be forgotten."
Lori wrote the following words, which are published on the Irving Police Department's website:
"He was the kind of father that all the kids in our neighborhood wanted to be around. The love and relationship between Aubrey and Andrew is indescribable. It was a relationship that most parents could only dream of having. The 9-year-old little boy was Aubrey's pride and joy. They were "buddies". It breaks my heart that Aubrey will never get to see Andrew grow up to be the man he always taught him to be. Aubrey was the kind of son who worried about his mom living alone. He always looked out for her and made sure she was safe. He truly loved her from the bottom of his heart. Aubrey was a loving and devoted husband. He was my best friend. He made me laugh when nobody else could. His face would "light up" every time I walked into a room. Never again will I hear him come home and yell throughout the house... "Where's my girl?" Never again will I feel his big arms wrapped around me and his kiss on my forehead."