Serving Beyond the Badge: Hockaday Graduates with Honors

When Jamal Hockaday crossed the commencement stage at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he celebrated more than earning two degrees. His graduation marked the fulfillment of a promise — one made to his father before his passing and built on more than three decades of service in law enforcement.

Hockaday earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and an Associate of Science in Law Enforcement.

“Getting these degrees represents years of commitment, resilience, and personal and professional growth,” he said. “For me, this is about more than higher education — it represents perseverance, purpose, and my commitment to my family, my peers, and becoming more knowledgeable in how I serve others through my work.”

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Hockaday’s early life took him across the country and overseas to Germany where he completed the majority of his high school years before finishing his studies back in the U.S. Inspired by his father — a retired Air Force veteran and police officer — he made the life-changing decision to serve his country and join the United States Navy, setting the stage for a career defined by his commitment to his community and country.

After completing his service, Hockaday sought out another way to serve and began his law enforcement career in Arkansas. He worked for the Jacksonville Police Department for 13 years before joining the Sherwood Police Department, where he continues to serve today.

Over the course of his 31-year law enforcement career, Hockaday has held a variety of roles, including detective, school resource officer, arson investigator, crime scene technician, field training officer, and state-certified law enforcement instructor. He currently serves as a school resource officer at Sylvan Hills High School, a role he said has had the greatest impact on him personally and professionally. 

“Being a school resource officer has had the biggest impact on me because I am able to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the public,” Hockaday said. “I hope I’m able to inspire the students at my school because they inspire me. They have inspired me to be a better person, husband, father, and law enforcement officer.”

Family has been a steady source of strength throughout Hockaday’s journey. He and his wife have been married for 30 years and are the parents of a 16-year-old son. He said their support carried him through the demands of his career, education, and personal challenges. His commitment to service was shaped by his father, whose example influenced both his military and law enforcement careers. In his final year of study, Hockaday also faced the loss of his father following a battle with Parkinson’s disease linked to Agent Orange exposure during service in South Vietnam. Before his passing, his father encouraged him to complete his degree—a promise Hockaday kept.

“It was hard, I almost quit school. My mother and wife both told me to press on, and that is what my dad would want,” he said. “I also wanted to set an example for my son and to show him that when life is tough, you don’t quit, you persevere through it, and fight. That’s exactly what I did, and now I’m graduating with honors.”

That drive carried into the classroom, where Hockaday’s decades of experience gave deeper meaning to his studies. He found value in classmates’ diverse viewpoints, new to criminal justice, and in meaningful discussions that broadened his perspective as both a student and an officer. Those same lessons have shaped the way he approaches his work as a school resource officer, where building trust and relationships with students has become one of the most rewarding aspects of his career.

“Four years ago, a female student was complaining about police officers and saying that she didn’t like cops. I told her that I’m a cop, and she looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘Hockaday, you are one of us!’ Right then, I knew I was making a difference in these students’ lives. They did not see me as a police officer but as family and a person that they could depend on,” said Hockaday.

Looking ahead, he hopes to use both his education and professional experience to help train future law enforcement officers, emphasizing empathy, integrity, and public trust. He wants recruits to understand the importance of protecting citizens’ rights, leading with compassion, and recognizing that every person’s story and circumstances are different.

“As a Black man, I saw an opportunity to be a solution and not the problem, just as my father was. Law enforcement became my way to continue his legacy,” said Hockaday.

With two degrees in hand, Hockaday plans to continue his father’s legacy of service, continuing serving his community and now the next generation of law enforcement. Excited about this new stage of life, his goal remains the same: to lead with integrity and compassion, always comitted to making a positive impact on his community and country.

“I know my dad is looking down on me from heaven,” he said, “saying ‘Well done son, I’m proud of you’.”