About Sgt. Steve Hickman

Steve Hickman commenced his law enforcement career in October 1988 as a reserve officer with the Watauga Department of Public Safety. In May 1989, Officer Hickman was appointed to a full-time position.  

In September 1990, Officer Hickman enrolled in the Fire Academy, where he obtained certification as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Upon successful completion of the academy, Officer Hickman resumed his patrol duties.  

In August 1991, Officer Hickman was promoted to the position of Detective, where he served for three years in the Criminal Investigations Division of the department. Following a gang-related shooting in Watauga, Detective Hickman was transferred to the newly established Northeast Street Crimes unit in May 1994. In this capacity, he spent four years as a detective in a plain-clothes special assignment.

In 1998, Detective Hickman transitioned from the Street Crimes unit to uniform patrol.  

In March 2003, Officer Hickman was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Sgt. Hickman served as a patrol sergeant until 2006, when he assumed the position of sergeant over the Criminal Investigation Division. He held that role until 2009, at which time he rotated back to patrol. In 2018, he retired honorably from the police force.

During his twenty-nine years with the Watauga Department of Public Safety/Watauga Police Department, Sergeant Hickman served in various capacities, including patrol officer, criminal investigator, special assignment detective, member of the S.W.A.T. team, and Field Training Officer. He was also an Honor Guard member and Sergeant of the Guard. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in establishing the bike patrol unit, serving as its sergeant. Sergeant Hickman holds certifications as a TCLEOSE-certified instructor in defensive tactics and tactical baton instruction, as well as a Master Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician.

Sergeant Hickman holds a Master Peace Officers certification and is currently pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Prior to entering the law enforcement field, Sergeant Hickman engaged in martial arts training.

While serving as a police officer, he continued training in various self-defense disciplines, defensive tactics, and tactical response. His training ultimately led him to learn Krav Maga, a defensive tactics system developed by the Israeli military and law enforcement personnel. Sergeant Hickman received his instructor’s certification in August 2009 and began teaching in January 2010.

In the realm of self-defense, Sergeant Hickman has attained a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a second degree black belt in Kenpō, and a graduate-level third degree in Krav Maga. He also holds instructors’ certifications for ASP expandable baton, the Rapid Containment Baton, Gracie Law Enforcement, Krav Maga Law Enforcement, Pressure Point Control Tactics, and weapons instructor. Additionally, he currently holds a Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 security license from the state of Texas, which encompass unarmed security, armed security, and personal protection officer roles.

Sergeant Hickman also possesses Level 3 and Level 4 instructors’ licenses. Notably, he is an NRA pistol instructor.