By Wesley Harris

 

What does the Ruston City Marshal’s Office do?

City Marshal Curtis Hawkins said the answer is more complex — and more important — than most people realize.

Ask the average resident to explain the role of the marshal’s office and you’re likely to get a vague answer — if you get one at all.

“Most people don’t really know,” Hawkins said. “What they know about marshals comes from TV — ‘Gunsmoke,’ U.S. marshals movies — but that’s not what we do.”

That gap between perception and reality is exactly what Hawkins is trying to close.

At its core, the marshal’s office serves one primary function: It is the enforcement arm of Ruston City Court.

While the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office carries out orders from district court and U.S. marshals secure federal courts and execute the directives of federal judges, Hawkins and his staff implement the directives of City Court. That responsibility includes serving subpoenas and court notices, executing arrest warrants issued by City Court, carrying out court-ordered property seizures, handling wage garnishments and bank seizures, and providing courtroom security.

“When the court issues an order,” Hawkins explained, “we make sure it actually happens.”

The job often requires locating individuals who may not want to be found, whether they are witnesses, defendants or parties in civil cases, and ensuring they appear in court as required.

Complicating that explanation is the fact Ruston City Court, and thus the City Marshal’s Office, has some parishwide jurisdiction. And the role of the city marshal has changed over Ruston’s history. At one time, the marshal was head of the police department. Then the position became that of “ward marshal,” meaning the marshal and the court served Ward One of Lincoln Parish, virtually synonymous with the city’s boundaries.

The Financial Role Most Never See

One of the least understood — but most complex — roles of the marshal’s office is financial.

Every traffic ticket, court fine or probation payment assessed by City Court flows through the marshal’s office. The office does not keep those funds. Instead, it is responsible for collecting, accounting for and distributing them according to state law.

A single speeding ticket can be divided among numerous local and state entities, including the City of Ruston, City Court, the coroner’s office, the crime lab, the public defender program, Crime Stoppers and other organizations. Each entity receives a specific portion set by statute, and the marshal’s office must calculate and distribute those amounts each month.

“Our office collects it, accounts for it, and then disburses it — every month,” Hawkins said.

The process requires detailed accounting procedures and careful compliance with state law. It is one of the most significant responsibilities of the office, though it remains largely invisible to the public.

And unlike popular myth, none of the collected money goes to the police department or individual officers.

The city’s portion goes into Ruston’s general fund. The City Council decides how much the police department is budgeted annually, regardless of how much fine revenue it receives.

Although called city marshal, the office’s responsibilities were extended beyond Ruston to include all of Lincoln Parish in 1984.

Changes in state law expanded the jurisdiction of Ruston City Court, particularly for civil matters, allowing civil cases up to $50,000 rather than filing in district court. As a result, the marshal’s office now operates parishwide, increasing both its reach and workload while providing faster access to the court system for residents.

The Human Side of the Job

Some of the office’s most difficult work comes in the form of evictions.

“It’s tough,” Hawkins said. “You’re dealing with people who are struggling financially. There’s a lot of emotion involved.”

Even so, the process is not sudden or unexpected. Individuals receive notice well in advance, are informed of court dates and are given time to prepare. Deputies often take time to explain what is happening and encourage people to make arrangements before the eviction is carried out.

Helping people through the process, Hawkins said, reduces tension and leads to more peaceful outcomes.

Experience as a Strategy

Hawkins has built his office around one key advantage: experience.

Deputies assigned to the marshal’s office are seasoned law enforcement officers. Hawkins and his deputy marshals each have more than 30 years of law enforcement service. Their experience provides not only investigative skill, but also deep connections within the community and a level of communication capable of defusing difficult situations.

“They know how to talk to people,” Hawkins said. “It makes a big difference in what we do.”

Experience is especially important in situations involving strong emotions or potential safety risks, such as evictions or warrant service.

A Philosophy of Continuous Improvement

After decades with the Ruston Police Department, including years in leadership roles, Hawkins brought a clear philosophy with him into the marshal’s office: continuous improvement.

Hawkins said he always looks for a better way, focusing on making the office efficient, accountable and prepared for the future.

One of the most significant changes has been the transition from paper-based systems to digital records. Case files are now scanned, stored securely and backed up regularly, allowing faster access to information and reducing the need for physical storage. The shift allowed the office to eliminate thousands of pounds of outdated paper records.

Hawkins also implemented a formal records retention policy aligned with state guidelines, ensuring documents are kept, archived or destroyed according to clear legal standards. Upgrades to computer systems and workflow processes have replaced handwritten reporting with digital entry, improving both speed and accuracy.

Beyond technical changes, Hawkins has emphasized training and collaboration. Through his role as a vice president with the Louisiana Marshals Association, he works with agencies across the state to share policies, exchange ideas and adopt best practices.

“Why reinvent the wheel?” he said. “If someone’s doing something better, we learn from it.”

Despite the expanded responsibilities and increased demands, the marshal’s office operates with roughly the same staffing levels it had 30 years ago.

That reality makes efficiency essential.

“One of the most frustrating things for a leader to hear is, ‘That’s the way we’ve always done it,’” Hawkins said. “That doesn’t mean it’s the best way.”

Changing Public Understanding

For Hawkins, improving operations is only part of the mission. The other is helping the public understand what the marshal’s office does and helping citizens work through issues within the court system.

It is not a patrol agency, and it does not duplicate the role of the police department or sheriff’s office. Instead, it serves as a critical link between the city court system and the community, ensuring court orders are carried out and the judicial process functions as intended.

“We’re the ones who make the court’s decisions real,” Hawkins said.

And increasingly, under his leadership, that work is being done with greater efficiency, stronger systems and a commitment to continuous improvement.