Phoenix Share Before The Badge, Troy Hillman, Certified Public Accountant

Phoenix AZ

19 February, 2021

8:22 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Phoenix: February 18, 2021 Phoenix Police officers come from many different backgrounds, including different careers. The department's new video series, 'Before the Badge,' is profiling some of those careers, and the diversity they bring to the department today. Sergeant Troy Hillman has been with the Phoenix Police Department for more than 20 years — a sergeant for 15 of those years. His path to this job is not a typical one, but he credits it for his skills in police work today. "I was a CPA accountant," Sgt. Hillman explained. "I got a degree in accounting from University of Illinois, launched into the business world as an auditor. Ended up working for a big company in Chicago called PricewaterhouseCoopers." Sgt. Hillman was a certified public accountant auditor, flying around the country, auditing small to midsize companies. "It was kind of a blessing and a curse. I was really good at it but I didn't necessarily like it," the sergeant explained. "But I definitely like rules, and following the rules." And that's where police work came in. After three years in the business world, Sgt. Hillman followed his affinity for rules right to the source of them— in law enforcement. "I wanted to pursue, and chase, and use my problem solving analytical skills to chase bad guys. And also kind of give back to the community, and just help people. "So, at the age of 24, Sgt. Hillman packed up his life in Chicago and drove out to Arizona to attend the Phoenix Regional Police Academy. Once he had his uniform and badge, he started on the streets in South Phoenix. But, it didn't take long for his business roots to bubble back up. "I always kind of wanted to explore the financial crimes — it was called document crimes at the time — as a detective, because I figured that would match with my skills as an auditor," Sgt. Hillman said. From there, he promoted to sergeant, and not long after, found himself running the Cold Case Homicide Squad — each part of his professional career is seemingly unrelated, and yet, when he looks back now, it's all connected. "Cold case for me was like a puzzle," Sgt. Hillman said. "Somebody else had already worked it, but I also, that kind of structure, that organizational, comes from the very depths of my accounting business education. Also you pour on the entrepreneurial companies I saw. The smaller businesses. And they're more of a get it done attitude. And I think I bring that to the forefront. "The Phoenix Police Department is a diverse group of public servants, and Sgt. Troy Hillman is one example of that. Many different people, with many different backgrounds, that make up the whole." This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author's own.