From Under Siege to Saving Lives
In this episode of Unstoppable Stories, host Lauren Cardillo is joined by Maurice Hicks, an author, former police officer, and UMGC alumnus. We get an incredible insider look into Maurice’s early childhood, and how he was able to not only jump, but run over every obstacle life gave him.
Maurice dives into his experience becoming the second person ever in his family to not only get a high school diploma, but many degrees after and eventually becoming a teacher. We get to hear how he went from being told he would become nothing, to becoming an extremely well respected police officer back in his dangerous home neighborhood, and eventually a successful writer. Maurice is an individual to look up to for his willpower and dedication. Make sure to tune in to hear his story.
Episode Information
Lauren Cardillo:
How surprised would that little kid be by by what you've done?
Maurice Hicks:
Very, very shocked. Yeah. Never imagined in a million years I would be involved in any of this. 'cause you know, I was hoping to become a CEO of for Fortune 500 company. You know, I never, you know, thought I would be involved in the military or police work, but I just found something that, you know, I just had a calling for and I had no idea I was clueless. I thank my grandfather, you know, uh, very, you know, religious persons gave me a lot of wisdoms, and that's what, you know, that's what really keeps me grounded.
Intro:
Welcome to the UMGC podcast Unstoppable Stories with your host Lauren card.
Lauren Cardillo:
Today I'm joined by Maurice Hicks, former police officer, military vet, author, dad and UMGC grad. Welcome Maurice.
Maurice Hicks:
Thank you very much for having me.
Lauren Cardillo:
So I just finished your book. And so for people who think they know Baltimore through like Homicide or The Wire, tell me what like your childhood was like growing up in Baltimore.
Maurice Hicks:
Sure. My childhood, I would say it like this, while other children would go in their backyard and play with their swing sets, I would go outside and see people shooting up heroin. Across the street from where I live, uh, see this pretty much every day. Um, a lot of crime. A lot of violence. Yeah. So I, I would describe it growing up, living under siege.
Lauren Cardillo:
But you were also sort of in a, in a house that in certain ways was a little oasis, you know, in the sense that you loved education, you know, you did lots of things with your family, you know, how did that sort of change your, your outlook?
Maurice Hicks:
Yeah, well, I, I would say, you know, it started out when I was about 10 years old and, uh, my, uh, mother married this gentleman who pretty much didn't care for me, and I had a little brother that was his pride and joy. So he started saying things to me like, you know, you're dumb. You're never amount to anything. Um, his motto was pretty simple. Never take care of another man's responsibility. And I was that responsibility. Uh, I wasn't allowed to be in any family photos. He wouldn't buy me food or anything like that. So I eventually, I got frustrated with that and that's when I, I ran away from home and by night fall, I made my way to my grandfather's house and.
I remember my grandfather looking at me saying, what in the world are you doing here at night? You know? And I, and I stayed there and I stand there for a few minutes and I'm like a deer in the headlight. And I finally just started breaking down crying and said, you know, I'm stupid. I never amount to anything. And he said, well good, where's this coming from? So when I explained to him, you know, he, he, he sat me down and said, you have a good heart and a good mind, and you're gonna make a tremendous difference in this world. Told my mother I'm gonna stay there. There from now on I. So that's when I go and I'm, now, I'm faced with the heroin den.
So they had its own challenges, but you know, we had a very loving family. I was always surrounded by my aunts and uncles who were always pouring into me and my grandfather, um, gave me a lifeline. And he wasn't typical mentor because he spent the most of his adult life in prison. He really, he was not my biological grandfather, but he cared a great deal about me. So I grew up with the stigma, uh, of worrying about that I'm not good enough and not smart enough. So what I wanted to do is prove to my stepfather that I wasn't dumb. So I started studying. The, the Bible and the encyclopedia. So you will find me either on, on the porch reading my uncle's world book encyclopedias or the library a few feet from where I lived. So that year, I, I got skipped from the fifth to seventh grade and I developed this sensational appetite for learning.
Lauren Cardillo:
But you were, you were not only learning. But also sort of an entrepreneur. I mean, yes. In the sense of, you know, I mean, I just found it fascinating how all these things were sort of pulling at you like, you know, the crime outside your front door. Your grandfather, who really wasn't your grandfather, but treated you as the grandson and then the, the kid who's owning a news stand and skipping grades. I mean, you were a very, uh, eclectic and diverse person growing up.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. Yes indeed. And I got a, when I had my newspaper stand, that was a good education in itself because a lot of teachers from Coton State University, a lot of people in the community would come and gimme words of encouragement and teach me how to navigate through the minefields of inner city life.
Lauren Cardillo:
And, and from what I can tell you, were fairly introverted, but you were really good at talking to people, which is something that has. Lasted your entire life, obviously like, you know, good at diffusing situations, good at sort of figuring out what people wanted. And yet you were an introvert, so how did that happen?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes, I, I was definitely an introvert. Um, but I learned early from being surrounded by, you know, bullies and, uh, stick up people, you know, learn how to talk my way outta situations and that's when I really learned, I had to get the gab. But I was always be growth about the conditions we were living in. You know, like, you know why other people live these lives of enchantment and we live under siege. So that really, you know, really affected me growing up.
Lauren Cardillo:
When you look at that today, does it, sometimes you think to yourself, h how did I get out of that?
Maurice Hicks:
Oh, absolutely. It, it, it was, but it was a different time. Um, because I had my grandfather, I had church, and I had a lot of aunts and uncles. That were around me all the time, always giving me wisdom. I had, you know, three uncles and, and th you know, and aunts and everything, and they were always giving, pouring into me, which is kind of different now. You know, a lot of people don't have, you know, their aunts and uncles around.
Lauren Cardillo:
Was this the grandfather who kept your picture in his pocket?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes, yes. Yes he did. Yeah. He, he was, he was very, he was very proud of me.
Lauren Cardillo:
I love that. And for anyone listening or watching, I think it was, he was living in North, no, West Virginia. What? North Carolina.
Maurice Hicks:
Well, he was lived in Baltimore and he moved to North Carolina.
Lauren Cardillo:
Right. And And he still had your picture in his shirt pocket every single day.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. Yes he did.
Lauren Cardillo:
And that's just like, that image just really spoke to me about like the impact that you had on each other.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. And even when he passed away, sitting in his chair, he still had my picture in his pocket, his in his shirt pocket.
Lauren Cardillo:
I love that. So then somehow you get roped into joining the Marines?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. Yes. Well, well, uh, one thing that happened, uh, I went down with a friend of mine, a high school classmate, who was interested in joining the Marines. He asked me to ride with him, to walk down with him. So I went with them and the recruiter. Sees me and he says, well, son, I'm glad you wanna become a United States Marine.
I said, sir, I'm not interested. I'm just here with my friend. He said, that's all well and good son, but why you here want you to take this test? And I was a, you know, a introvert and a pretty obedient kid. So, yes sir, I, I'll take it. Right? So I take the test and I ended up joining and my, my high school classmate didn't, right.
So he thought it was hilarious that I did, you know, so. That led me to, as an introvert, that was a very interesting experience being in the Marine Corps, particularly training. 'cause they single out people like me.
Lauren Cardillo:
Yeah. You're, you're, you're writing about your, um, your experience at Paris Island was just like, why am I here? You know, and being picked on once again by bullies, right? Yeah.
Maurice Hicks:
Yeah. Yes, yes. You know, I did. And then the other thing is being told the same thing my stepfather to said, you know. Your stupid son, you know, you know, you're not cut out for this, you know? And, uh, and all those tain, those same feelings of insecurities coming back. 'cause you know, you know, you know, you're not cut out for this son. There's just something different about you. So I'm like, my God, this man has my number. He knows, he knows me, you know, and I'm quiet and awkward a little bit, you know, so they're having a field day with me per solid.
Lauren Cardillo:
And you're, I mean, it's just funny 'cause you're like, how did I get here? You know? How, how long did you end up in the Marines for? Like what was your experience like?
Maurice Hicks:
So, um, I, I, I went into reserves after training. I went to my military occupational specialty. Then I came home because here's the thing, I was only second male in my family grad, graduated from high school. No person, male in my family has stepped in the college of university. So I wanted the best of both worlds. So I joined the Reserves and came back and went to college at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Lauren Cardillo:
And I and I read what happened.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. For somebody
Lauren Cardillo:
What happened?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. Uh, about a year later, I received what I would describe as a mother of all bonds. I remember sitting Cindy Dale reading this letter saying, oh my goodness. I got academically dismissed. My grandfather had warned me. He never gave me a bad piece of advice. He said, son, you are working all these jobs. You're not a locomotive. And even, even those break down. So I stood, I stood there staring at that letter, oh my God, oh, I hope to break the generational curse and now I'm a failure. So that was mentally and emotionally devastating to me.
Lauren Cardillo:
I, I am sure. What sort of inspired you to keep going?
Maurice Hicks:
Well, I tell you, um, I always had in the back of my mind what I wanted to prove my stepfather wrong. So I humbled myself and involved in the community college, and I would get there like five o'clock in the morning. As soon as the college opened, I would go there, study, and then, you know, I, I got my groove back, so to speak. You know, I got one know Distinguished scholar awards and things like that. So I was like, you know, just like in the Marine Corps, I knew I just couldn't quit, you know?
Even though they were telling me, you know, I wasn't cut out for it. I know I just couldn't quit. You know, I couldn't have a lifestyle where I just gave up.
Lauren Cardillo:
In the midst of all this too, you also get roped into applying to become a member of the police force. Yes. And it seems if I'm not a crazy person, there's a repeating behavior here.
Maurice Hicks:
You are absolutely correct. And the recruiter, when I went down with my, my cousin again, I had no interest whatsoever in law enforcement. Could said pretty much the same thing. I know you, you said you're not interested, but why are you here, son? I want you to take this test. We both took the test and I joined and he didn't.
Lauren Cardillo:
So you're thinking to yourself either I'm a really bad judge of character, or this is, or this is meant for me, right? Yes,
Maurice Hicks:
yes, yes. And I start, wow. This is, you know, this is actually my calling. I would've never thought this Steve Urkel type individual during the military and the police department.
Lauren Cardillo:
But you did find the thing that really changes your whole life, I guess, you know, 20 years and the police, you know, working with the FBI. Tell me about that experience. I mean, how did it, it was someplace you never thought you would be.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. Well, one, one thing about, just go back just a little bit. Uh, growing up in Baltimore, watching people shooting up heroin, one experience really changed my life and. Um, these people who were shooting up heroin, they burglarized my mentor's house. And when they're walking back with the merchandise, uh, this 15-year-old kid lifts up, lifts up his his shirt and shows me a gun. You know, and I, I'm just, you know, I'm, I'm terrified by this, you know, and, uh, my mentor comes home and she asked me a very simple question, did you see anything? I lived directly, uh, next to the, the heroin den.
And I hesitated for a minute and I said no. I said no. 'cause I was, I was afraid. And I was afraid what they, you know, do to my family. And that really, really brought me down again. Took me to a downward spiral, you know, I felt really bad by myself, you know, now I'm with the Baltimore City Police Department, and, um, well, I told my, asked my sergeant, I told my sergeant, I said, I'm interested in becoming a detective.
He said, oh, that's great. The next day, my list, my name was on the list to walk foot patrol in the housing projects, public housing projects. I was like, why you do this to me, SAR He, he laughed at me and said, son, your leg is gonna be humongous when you come off that foot beat. So I, I walked foot patrol in O'Donnell Heights, housing projects. I come across a lady who's has her head down and I'm all, I'm all Jovi. I'm like, yeah, how you doing today, ma'am? And she's like, uh, you know. Somebody broke into my house and, you know, stole, stole, you know, stole my property. So I'm like, well, who, who's investigating your case? She said, investigating the case.
No one's investigating the case because I didn't call the police. I said, are you kidding me? I said, why not? She said, y'all don't care about us down here. And I said, look at me, ma'am. I care. So I went into her house and she has two toddlers sitting on the floor and there's absolutely nothing in the house. I mean. No furniture. No. So I said, are you, are you redecorating? She said, you don't understand. Young man. They took everything, my food, my clothes, my refrigerator, ments, the laundry detergent to close off the clothing line. Her house was completely cleaned out. So I'm, I'm a rookie, uh, but I knew, you know, take preliminary investigative steps, do a neighborhood canvas.
And of course, like me people said they didn't say anything. They didn't see anything. So I'm, I'm walking around and I walk past this house. I look inside and lo and behold, I see some of her property. I still remember to this day, a refrigerator al, almost looked like the sun, her red leather jacket, uh, you know, so on and so forth. So, I, I go run across the street and I grab her and I said, can you tell me where this, your stuff? And I said, oh my God. It's my stuff. So I, I, I, I tell her, go back to her house. I, I found out who lives there. Eventually get a consent search. And get regained, majority of her property. And I kept milling around the next couple days asking people, and I found someone, they told me where the rest of her property was.
It was in the woods. So I come back like Santa Claus the next day with a nap sack of her rest, her stuff, and she is happy. Um. People, two, two witnesses came forth who, you know, said that they witnessed the burglary, so, uh, made to arrest. And the interesting thing that happened is people in that neighborhood came out and they were like shocked. And people started, the word started getting out. There was this rookie patrol officer cared about people in the community, and they started coming to me with their unreported, unsolved crimes. I would solve their cases from them, for them. And my sergeant said six months later, he said, Maurice, who do you know down here?
I said, everybody, he, that was the point. You wanna become a detective. You get, you have to know how to interact with people in the community.
Lauren Cardillo:
How did that make you feel? You know that at some point in your life, people had said, you'll never mount to anything, and then all of a sudden, you know, this guy that people trust and they ask for your help. How did that make you feel?
Maurice Hicks:
Uh, euphoric. Um, it was a point of redemption. I started realizing that this, this was my calling, that this was not an accident. This is, you know. It was my life to, to be a justice, to get justice for people, you know, to put their vehicle for justice and to make a difference in people's lives. And it was, it was an excellent feeling.
Lauren Cardillo:
I'm reading through, reading through your book, you know, there are, there are a ton of stories about you doing that, you know, but. It's not easy. It's really ugly at times, you know? Yes. Really hard. I mean, I read the book and I was just like, okay, I, I don't feel like I wanna go to Baltimore right now. You know? It was just, you know, the, the neighborhoods you were describing, you know, um, I mean, how'd you keep going?
Maurice Hicks:
Knowing the impact it had on people's lives was very rewarding and people, uh, confide in me about a lot of things. And it was, it was a lot of pressure because. In the beginning, I'm like, I'm just a kid myself. You know, I'm in my twenties, I'm just really learning life. So, you know, it, it was, uh, you know, it, it was really, really, really challenging. But, you know, it was also rewarding. I mean, uh, el senior citizens, children, you know, finding their bicycles, you know, somebody's lawnmower or senior citizens, you know. It was a great feeling of satisfaction and just seeing people's face and, and, you know, seeing how people could learn to appreciate the police.
Lauren Cardillo:
And eventually you become that detective, you, sergeant, you get assigned to an FBI task force. Um, you really overcame a lot of, you know, the, the introvert and also horrible racism to like. Get to where you wanted to be. I mean, I, I really, I read your book and I was just like, this is a great story, you know, about somebody finding what they loved and going
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. It, it, it was, uh, like I say, shocking to me and, and to most of my friends, particularly, uh. Knowing that I worked undercover, did undercover work for five years, which is a joke to a lot of my friends. Like, you know, you're like, Urkel, sir, and you're undercover. It's kinda hard to imagine, but, you know. Yeah. But again, you know, growing up watching people show up heroin, I never thought I would be a narcotics detective, you know? But it was, you know, but it was my calling.
Lauren Cardillo:
You end up then. Deciding to pass community college, go to school, you know, go further than that. What sort of, what sort of drove you past that letter that said, you know, you're, you're dismissed to actually now getting a couple of degrees?
Maurice Hicks:
Well, I wanted to be the first, first in my family to graduate from college, but I just had this, as I stated earlier, I had this insatiable appetite for learning. And, uh, I, I, my, my mother, uh, was a, was a teacher, and I had, uh, aunts that became teachers. So I, I knew eventually I would be, become a teacher. So, uh, I, I worked toward that. But again, I've always loved learning. You know, people in the police department would joke, they was, I joked about another officer. I said, have you ever seen anyone who always has their face burning the book?
He said, yeah, you, I said, okay. So even studying for the promotional exams, you know, you know, I, I enjoyed it. Other people, you know, they would complain about it, but I just loved learning.
Lauren Cardillo:
So the Bachelor's criminology, correct?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes, correct.
Lauren Cardillo:
Okay. That seems a natural,
Maurice Hicks:
Yes.
Lauren Cardillo:
I was thinking you probably knew a lot more at some points than the people in the class.
Maurice Hicks:
Well, I was working high profile cases as a student. You know, I, I'm learning, I'm learning as I go along, as a, as a student, you know, uh, working major narcotics as a student. But I tell you, I, the irony of it all is 20, almost 20 years to the day that I got that rejection letter from the University of Maryland. I came back to teach 20 years later. As a adjunct professor,
Lauren Cardillo:
You're still teaching, correct?
Maurice Hicks:
I've been teaching there almost 25 years.
Lauren Cardillo:
Do you ever think to yourself, ha I am now like an adjunct professor for something that I wasn't very good at to begin with? I mean, that's a life turn, right? And Yes. And do you, do you look at yourself and say what you know just happened here?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes, yes, yes indeed. And, uh, but I, university of Maryland Global Campus has, has really inspired me so much because I took, uh, experiential learning analysis where you write an experiential, uh, learning portfolio for college credit. I took cooperative education and I would come back and teach those classes as well. Because, you know, being an insider, being astute, you really get to understand how to do it and eventually became a faculty evaluator as well. Um, evaluating experiential learning portfolios in three different disciplines. Yes. And a peer mentor became a peer, been peer, a peer mentor for years.
Lauren Cardillo:
I know I read this in your, in your book, um, you didn't really tell your wife always what was going on in the police department. Correct. Um, and I get why 'cause you, you don't wanna do that, but, but how do, how do you sort of make that work? Because you were doing some pretty dangerous things. Yes. And you try to protect your family though.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. And that's, that's really difficult. 'cause um, one of the things, two things, I remember one thing I was investigating a serial rapist who was committing rapes in a community in which we were living. So I had to go out at night. They try to look for, for the, uh, rapist. And that was, you know, that was horrifying, you know, knowing, leaving my wife and children unprotected, of course. Um, as you read in the book, I was investigating a, a kingpin of course, to believe, who was believed to be responsible about 12 murders, and he was killing witness and things like that.
So it, it is really difficult, you know, um, trying to balance that. And I think a lot of people don't think about that. The kind of sacrifice you have to make decision, you have to make, um, decisions, um, about your own family decisions about witnesses. Uh, it's, it's a lot. It, it really is. Uh, I can make, I'm in my twenties and early thirties and I'm making a decision whether, uh, that could determine whether somebody lives or die, you know, witness a reference.
So it's, it's, it's a lot of pressure and you really, you know. Yes.
Lauren Cardillo:
And I found interesting that a lot of the people. You talk about were people you knew for long periods of time. Yes. They were like habitual criminals or whatever you wanna call 'em. You know, it was like they knew you, you knew them, and it was like this long drawn out game in a certain way.
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. You know? Yeah. Maybe it was a
Lauren Cardillo:
A chess game. Yeah,
Maurice Hicks:
Yeah. You know, one day you have a person, they're a suspect. Another day they're a witness, another day, a shooting victim. You know, it, it is a really interesting dynamic. So one day they're, uh. You out. Next thing you know, you're holding their hand, calling the ambulance for 'em to save their life. And then, you know, the other interesting dynamic you have, because remember I, I'm a patrol officer in this area where I'm doing this major investigation, you know, with homicide and the FBI and stuff. So unlike the FBI, unlike some of the other detectives, I know these kids who, and I know their parents, so when I, you know, they see me, you know. Officer Hicks, you know, my son was shot, my son was killed. You know, can you help me? You know, so it, it is, for me, it's, it was very personal and I took it personally. You know, I, you know, knowing people and then, you know, knowing some of them, try to, talking to them, trying to get them out of their life and then they ended up murdered or shot, you know, it's a lot of pressure.
Yeah. But, you know, you say, you know, you know, but you also save a lot of lives in the, in the process.
Lauren Cardillo:
There were definitely people you read, I read about who you're like, you know that at some point you're gonna find them dead. And that was just, you know, it's heartbreaking.
Maurice Hicks:
You have to really, you know, evaluate what you're doing, just do the best you can. But again, making important decisions that most people would never want to be involved in. Uh, yeah, whether, you know, trying, you know, but you know, you have, like, I had kids when I was a patrol officer that would be shot, you know, and I would see him on the way to school and I'm like, Hey, would it, would it hurt you to grab a book?
You know what I mean? One kid told me, said, uh, officer Hicks, uh, that's all I know is selling drugs. Like, man, you just 16 my friend. You have a lot of skills, you know, so, you know, you do what you can. But again, uh, when you get to know, just like my sergeant told me, once you get to know these people. They trust you, they give you information and you know, and sometimes you can make a difference in there, but some, some kids who I was able to, you know, turn 'em around.
Lauren Cardillo:
How did you end up in a private detective agency? How did you end up doing that?
Maurice Hicks:
Well, interesting enough, uh, my brother, uh, was gunned down in Baltimore at the age of 17. He was one of the many homicide victims. And I tell you, I was a, I remember I was a lieutenant at the time. I was a command of robbery financial crimes, and I, I would go visit other lieutenants. So I was visiting a lieutenant in Baltimore City and he took me on a, a, a, uh, tour of the homicide division, and he slapped the, the file captain said, these are the homicide files. Most of these cases would never be solved. And I realized that my brother was one of those people in, in those files. So I try, you know, I try to make some sort of sense of a sense of it, you know, and I start realizing that a lot of families who don't have adequate police protection, uh, adequate investigations, you know, done for their family members.
So, so I sought to, to fill that void. 'cause you know, with being a private investigator. So I was able, as a private investigator, I was able to do some phenomenal things. I had some great success stories as a private investigator, made a significant difference in the lives of people, and I felt I had, you know, again, redemption and a sense of purpose.
Lauren Cardillo:
Are you, you're still doing that today?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes, yes, I am. I have an, I have a real incredible story of, uh, someone that I, I was hired to find a missing person. A person who was a, she was on, um, on heroin, on a, asked a variety of drugs and her parents hired me to locate her. Uh, the second day she was there, she left the rehab center. Well, they took her to a gym, her and another, and some other people, and they left the gym, got away, and the girl was with her OD'ed that day. So. She's in Las Vegas from another state. Don't have any, any connections. No money, no Id, no anything on the street for, for two weeks. Didn't know anyone. So, uh, her, her, her parent, her mother interviewed and interviewed me and said she could hear the compassion in my voice.
She interviewed a lot of private investigators. Um. The fact that I had a background in narcotics was, you know, was good because her daughter was in drug, you know, into drugs. So she hired me. Then I had three daughter, well I had four daughters at, uh, so anyway, she felt comfortable. So, uh, I, I tracked down and I was tracking down leads. Everybody was in, was an intelligence resource for me. Every homeless person, every video, the street, just like as being a walking foot patrol, I had everyone in the intelligence loop. So I had a, I got a call. I wouldn't, I wouldn't turn my phone off at night. So at five o'clock in the morning I got a phone call and somebody had found her.
So I zoomed, I zoomed out my garage, flew out there and staked out the area. Called her coming out. Um, called. Uh, she didn't want to come, so I found out she had a Warner and to call the police that came and took her. And so we got her back to her, to her, to her state. It was funny because a guy was trying to pick her up, and, uh, I said, oh my God. I started blowing a horn and said, get away from my wife. So he got scared and left. So, so, so I said, I, so I said, you know, I said, uh. I get you a cup of coffee. She said, I don't want no cup of coffee. I said, look, I'm gonna probably investigate hired by your parents. So when she wouldn't go, I called the police and then she tried to run.
I blocked her from my car. They blocked her today. She just opened her second rehab center. She, uh, was an owner of two rehabs. Yeah, she, she got clean and she is the owner of two rehabs. Now I just. I just met her. I, I, I hadn't seen her in years. I met her mother for the first time face to face. I just got a book award in Phoenix. And, uh, I met her and her mother, and it took me on a tour of her rehab facility, the second one that she just opened.
Lauren Cardillo:
How'd that make you feel? I mean, you made a huge impact in somebody's life. How'd that make you feel?
Maurice Hicks:
It made me feel good. And then here's the other thing. I found her on Easter Sunday morning. So every Easter Sunday morning I get a email from her mother thanking me for finding her daughter. Yeah. So it's a great feeling.
Lauren Cardillo:
Yeah. I was gonna ask you how you sort of balance all the dangerous things you've been in and all the horrible things you've seen with, with that. You know, it's like two sides of a coin or it feeds your soul some way. Yeah. I mean, it's a lot to handle, but you seem to do it.
Maurice Hicks:
Yeah. Yes it is. But again, um, I think my grandfather, you know, uh, very, you know, religious persons gave me a lot of wisdoms. And again, I. Gave me a strong religious foundation and you know, and, and, and Sunday school and church. And that's what, you know, that's what really keeps me grounded. And uh, but like I said, it's a lot of responsibility. I mean, I was worried about this lady ODing herself, you know, and some people, you know, they could just bury it and not think about it, but me, I couldn't turn my phone off and I'm glad I didn't because I got that call. 5:00 AM
Lauren Cardillo:
Yeah, I totally understand that. So are you. Still working police work or It's detective, it's teaching. What else?
Maurice Hicks:
Um, it's teaching own a private detective agency and security company here in Maryland. And I do government contract work as well.
Lauren Cardillo:
So you are busy?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. And still enjoying every minute of it. I love being investigating. I love being a teacher.
Lauren Cardillo:
And is there another book in the works?
Maurice Hicks:
Oh yes. I'm already working on looking for triple two. I'm about 35% done the sequel to the first book. So what's that one gonna be about? That's gonna pick up, uh, I ended this book as a sergeant. I'm gonna pick up when I, um, I'm promoted. I'm, I'm a sergeant now. We're working narcotics, uh, coordinating narcotics investigation, uh, to squad and running, uh, robbery squad and becoming the command of robbery.
So we're dealing with drugs again, and, uh, patrol again as well. Uh, it's a sar, it's a patrol sergeant and catching the bank robbers and, you know, uh, yeah. So all kinds of interesting fast paced. Fast paced cases.
Lauren Cardillo:
Did you remember all of this? Or did you write, did you write stuff as you were going? You know what I mean? Like, you know, did you keep a little notebook and over 20, 20 years you wrote, how did you, how did you recall all of it?
Maurice Hicks:
Well, people at the police department used to tease me because I could, I used to have a a, a very good memory. They, they, they would tease me and say, ask Hicks anything about the police department. He can even tell you what color the chief underwear. And, uh, I don't have a, my memory's not that good now, but back then it was very good. I remember a lot of details.
Lauren Cardillo:
I am sure, because I read through the book and I was like, this is, you know, you set the scene so well. And the, and the different characters that I was like, wow, you are remembering things that I would, I love that. Was there a, a moment, um, outside of that great detective story in either Baltimore or PG County, like that made you feel just fabulous, you know, doing police work that time where you thought, this is amazing.
Maurice Hicks:
Yeah. Uh, probably when, um, I arrested the serial rapist. Who was breaking into people's home. Uh, it was a cat burglar. And, uh, he would go into their home, uh, take the phone off the hook, deactivate the alarm, then take the phone off the hook so they couldn't call the police. He was mask, you know, and, uh, yeah. And catching him the, the most, you know, I guess the, the DMVs most wanted for, you know, that, that was, uh, with an AK 47 assault rifle, crossbo with arrows.
With the, you know, catching with the goods, you know, the mask with the, the mask, the duct tape, the whole evidence kit was like a, a career bus. You know, that every, every detective once, you know, to catch somebody, you know. Yeah. So that was definitely one of the, one of the highlights of my career,
Lauren Cardillo:
I am sure. And the fact that he was then trying to promote an alarm company to those same people. Yes. He had just broken into their house, was just like this weird twist that I was like,
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. I mean, a person who's actually committing crimes to create a need for his alarm business. It's shocking.
Lauren Cardillo:
It was. It was twisted in a way that, you know, I was like, whoa. You know, looking back now, because you've had a long career, how surprised would that little kid be, you know, who was sitting on the porch, you know, reading or. Or, you know, was, um, bagging in the supermarket, you know, how, how, how surprised would that little kid be by, by what you've done?
Maurice Hicks:
Very, very shocked.
Yeah. Never imagined in a million years I would be involved in any of this. 'cause, you know, I was hoping to become a CEO of for Fortune 500 company. You know, I never, you know, thought I'd be involved in the military or, or police work. Uh. But I just found something that, you know, I just had a calling for and I had no idea. I was clueless because I joined. After leaving Baltimore, I joined Prince George County Police the same way. I went down my partner with Baltimore. I had no interest in joining the Prince George County Police Department said the same thing. So why you here? What you take this test?
Lauren Cardillo:
If somebody had been going to nasa, you would've gone to NASA and taken it trust, right? Yeah. Why take, yeah, why they take me to NASA instead, so we know what you're gonna do. Another book. But you've also gotten a lot of acclaim for this book. Like tell me about that and how'd that, how'd that make you feel? Since it really came out of, you know, you teaching classes and telling people your experiences?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes. In December of last year, 2024, Looking for Trouble won an International Impact book award. I. And I went, uh, to Phoenix, Arizona to claim the award. It was a great feeling and I, I, I requested, uh, I put the book in for memoir and inspirational stories and I was really happy 'cause it wanted it, children's inspiration, motivational category. So a lot of people look at the book as more than just a police book as an inspirational book. Uh, also, uh, it was listed on police wanted, it must read. Book for law enforcement by law enforcement in 2024 as well.
Lauren Cardillo:
So to all those people who said, you never amount to anything. Ha, right?
Maurice Hicks:
Yes,
Lauren Cardillo:
You have. You have succeeded in, you know, fabulous ways. So, congratulations. That's great.
Maurice Hicks:
Thank you very much.
Lauren Cardillo:
So thank you for being here today, and thank you to our listeners and our viewers who watch Unstoppable Stories. If you want more of this content, just subscribe or like our podcasts and we'll have more for you soon. Thanks so much for being here. Thank you, Maurice.
Maurice Hicks:
Thank you very much for having me.