Chief James Hicks began his career in law enforcement in 1985 with the Brandeis University Campus Police Department. He then joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Campus Police Department before joining the Waltham Police Department in 1986.

During his career with the Waltham Police Department, Chief Hicks had the opportunity to work on many projects including recruitment, youth sports in the community, accreditation, policy development, and the development of affirmative action plans and goals. In 1998, Chief Hicks was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

In 2001, Chief Hick was chosen to lead the Bedford Police Department. While in this position, Chief Hicks was asked to work on several committees and working groups throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Chief Hicks was also appointed by Governor Deval Patrick to serve on the Board of Trustees for Middlesex Community College in August 2007. He was re-appointed in April of 2013 and became the Acting Chair of the Board of Trustees in December 2014.

On March 28, 2011, Chief Hicks assumed the position of Chief of Police for the Town of Natick, Massachusetts. During his tenure, he served as President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association in 2013.

In addition to staying active in local public safety organizations, Chief Hicks is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Civilian Law Enforcement Cooperation Committee. As a result of his efforts in this committee he was nominated, and attended, the U.S. Army War College Commandant’s National Security Program in July 2015. Chief Hicks also served as the Massachusetts Representative to the State Association of Chiefs of Police Committee of the IACP, and now serves as Vice President At-Large. He is President of the Middlesex Chiefs of Police Association, and is a member of the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth and Natick 180 Steering Committee.

Chief Hicks attended Brandeis University and graduated with a degree in Mathematics, where he was also presented the Bruce R. Mayper Award for Promoting Interracial Understanding. He earned his Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College in 1989. He continues to teach for the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council in subjects such as Cultural Diversity, Hate Crimes, Report Writing and Courtesy to the Public.