By Kyle and Judith Roberts
RUSTON, La. — When Chad Hamlin agreed to come talk to the fourth graders at Ruston Elementary, he had no idea at the time how historic his talk would be to the students.
Originally approached by RES Principal Mandy Brown to be the final speaker to celebrate Black History Month at the school, Hamlin had already been a dedicated public servant for quite some time in Ruston.
And in between the time he was asked and the time he gave his talk, Hamlin was named the interim Ruston Police Chief — the first black man to enter into the crucial role in the Ruston community.
“I’m very appreciative to come talk to the kids (to celebrate Black History Month),” Hamlin said of his being named interim police chief. “To be able to show kids of color, someone like me who grew up in this area and hadn’t seen this before — it just means a lot, and it’s hard to put into words. The impact may not be felt right now, but ten years from now, who knows what it could look like. I’m truly honored.”
Hamlin brought a pair of RPD officers with him and spoke about his history leading up to being named interim police chief and also the importance of being respectful and being good students now to prepare for future success.
“I believe this is kind of the foundation of community policing,” Hamlin said. “We want to get involved with kids and change their perspectives. Sometimes, it loosens the parents up a little bit to how they feel about police, and they, too, get a different perspective. I’ve tried to do things (like today) since the start of my career.
For Principal Brown, Hamlin’s talk was the perfect way to celebrate Black History Month and highlight the achievements of black men and women throughout history — and also right here at home in Lincoln Parish.
“It was an honor and a privilege to have Mr. Hamlin speak to our students,” Brown said. “His work ethic, perseverance, and dedication to our city is something that we all can admire and appreciate. He has held many positions in law enforcement: Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief, Patrol Commander and now Interim Chief.
“Chief Hamlin is local, and his career echoes what we try to instill in our students: “Respect and kindness will take you a long way.” We are very fortunate to have him speak and serve Ruston in Law Enforcement.”
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