Kevin George Hawkins

Detective Kevin Hawkins died of kidney cancer, which he contracted after inhaling toxic chemicals and materials while working hundreds of hours at Ground Zero, the site of the World Trade Center terrorist attack of 9/11.

Detective Hawkins was a U.S Marine Corps veteran who had served with the New York City Police Department for 20 years and was assigned to the Mayor's Security Detail.

Kevin G. Hawkins came from South Ozone Park, Queens, and grew up on Staten Island. He was appointed to the New York City Police Department on 20 January 1987 and worked in the 17th Precinct and the Patrol Borough Manhattan South Task Force before joining the Executive Protection Unit of the Intelligence Division, where he spent many years on the mayor's security detail. He received his gold shield on 29 May 2003 and was promoted to detective second grade on 29 September 2006. He made 71 arrests and received three department medals for distinguished acts of duty. He also served in the United States Marine Corps, and as a reservist he served two tours in the Persian Gulf War in 1990.

While still on active duty, Detective Hawkins died on 7 May 2007 of kidney cancer caused by his work in the World Trade Center rescue and recovery effort. The illness took his life in less than a year. Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the dignity and strength he brought to his service. He was 42 years old.

A Mets fan who loved reading and crossword puzzles, he was survived by his wife, three children, his mother and his brother. On 28 June 2010, the date that would have been his 45th birthday, a private street at the corner of Locust Court and Gervil Place on Staten Island was renamed Det. Kevin G. Hawkins Way.