Clayton Hawkins, Ph.D.

Clayton Hawkins, Ph.D., is an instructor at the Stanislaus County (California) Sheriff’s Office Basic Academy and former captain with the Calaveras County (California) Sheriff’s Office. He is a POST Master Instructor, spending 22 of his 34 years in public service as the commander of a regional bomb squad and hazardous materials response team. Clay has a Ph.D. in political economy and has been teaching courses in the Basic Academy and in-service training programs since 2009.

LATEST ARTICLES

What Cops Want

Closing the rookie experience gap: What every shift can do to boost officer safety

With 90% of “What Cops Want” survey respondents citing inexperience as a top safety risk, it’s time to turn every shift into high-impact, on-the-job training

June 19, 2025 12:00 PM

Clayton Hawkins, Ph.D.

Police Training

Integrating teach-back with problem-based learning in police academy training

Through well-developed design and facilitation methods, teach-back activities improve understanding of course content and real-world applications for police recruits

April 28, 2025 03:37 PM

Clayton Hawkins, Ph.D.

Police Academy

Problem-based learning in basic police academy instruction

Given the increasingly complex nature of modern policing, agencies must consider adopting new instructional methodologies to improve the performance of new officers

April 20, 2024 03:46 PM

Clayton Hawkins, Ph.D.