I have been a member of the Ruston Police Department for 34 years. I began my career in November, 1973 when I was hired as a civilian dispatcher, and on January 1, 1975, I became a commissioned Police Officer. I’ve worked through all the ranks from communications to interim chief of police and currently serve as the department’s Assistant Chief. Most of my career has been either in uniform patrol or administration. My duties now are mostly administrative and include a wide variety of activities. I am responsible for all of the department's financial matters, including payroll and budget management, and the general purchasing and procurement of all of our equipment and supplies. I also supervise the maintenance of all of the department's vehicles. In addition to all of that, I serve as one of the department's motor vehicle accident reconstructionists, and I am also a certified emergency vehicle driving instructor.
In September of 1999, I was honored by being the recipient of the Lawman of the Year award which was presented by the Ruston Kiwanis Club.
This is where I spend my working hours now. I enjoy what I do, but I also miss working the "street". Although my job now is important to the daily operations of the Ruston Police Department, it's not unique to law enforcement. I basically serve as a business manager, doing the same kind of administrative work that's found in almost any company or business.
My area of expertise in law enforcement is in the field of motor vehicle accident reconstruction. Accident reconstruction goes beyond that of normal, everyday accident investigation in that it deals with the technical aspects of motor vehicle collisions. It involves the detailed analysis of damage and collision data from an accident. Much of the reconstruction of a motor vehicle collision involves extensive mathematics, as well as knowing, understanding and applying the laws of physics. In basic traffic accident investigation, you report what happened. In the reconstruction phase of a collision, you not only report what happened, but you find out why it happened. You find out what caused it, what could have prevented it, and what will prevent it from happening again. In many cases, you find that there are multiple causes that all worked together to cause a collision. It's like a giant puzzle, but it's real. Some puzzles are harder than others, some much harder. You have to try to find all of the pieces of the puzzle and put them together. Then once you have found the right pieces, the true cause of the collision can almost always be found. I am a member of several accident investigation and reconstruction professional organizations:
I have had many experiences during my 34 years in law enforcement. There have been good times as well as the bad. I've had a million laughs, cried a few tears, and experienced both joy and heartache. I've seen the best of people at their best, and the worst of people at their worst. I've felt tremendous self-satisfaction and pride, as well as disappointment and fear. I felt a sense of great self-satisfaction after saving the life of a close friend. I also felt deep disappointment and heartache after pulling the dead, limp body of another close friend from a destroyed motor vehicle. I've experienced life in ways that many people will never know. I've accomplished some really good things, and have made my share of mistakes. But overall, I'm proud of who I am and what I've accomplished.
If you have specific questions
or would just like to know more about the Ruston Police Department,
please feel free to contact me, Captain Jim Hilton, by e-mail.
You can send me e-mail at
my home
or at
my office
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