The City of Hilliard Division of Police celebrated the promotion of a new sergeant and the welcomed a new police officer Monday.
Sgt. Matt Hayes was sworn into his new role after being selected through an extensive and competitive promotional process.
Hayes joined HPD in June 2018 after graduating from the Columbus Police Training Academy. Throughout his career in Hilliard, he has served in several roles, including as a detective in both the Special Investigations Unit and the Criminal Investigations Unit.
In 2023, Hayes received the Franklin County Star Award in recognition of his service.
Officer Kayla Martin was also sworn in Monday as Hilliard’s newest police officer. While she is new to the division, she is not new to law enforcement.
Martin grew up in central Ohio and graduated from Olentangy High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University.
She began her law enforcement career with the Wood County Juvenile Court, serving as a detention officer for one year before spending six years as a probation officer.
In 2023, Martin graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Basic Peace Officer Academy and joined the Bowling Green State University Police Department. During her time there, she earned certifications as a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructor and an International Police Mountain Bike Association instructor.
Martin will spend her first few weeks learning the division’s policies before beginning 15 weeks of field training with a certified training officer.
Individuals who believe they embody the spirit of a vibrant city, can play an active role both in the department and in the community, and can continue to make Hilliard one of the best places to work and live should visit WearTheHPDBadge.org to see if they have what it takes to be a member of the Hilliard Division of Police.
