Steve Hall ’88, P ’15

Police Capt. Steve Hall ’88

A Life Built on Service

After a quarter of a century of service as a police officer and his rise to captain, Steve Hall ’88 wants to be the next sheriff of St. Mary’s County. He’s looking to replace the current sheriff, who is not seeking re-election. Steve’s dad was an Army man, and his parents divorced when he was 6 years old. He said, “Divorce is tricky and a life-altering experience that can be extremely painful and confusing for all involved.” But in the forced transitions that often result, surprising things can happen. In Steve’s case, he grew to know his parents uniquely as driven and passionate individuals, not as a parental mom/dad unit. Steve lived with his mom and spent more time with the maternal side of his family. “One of my closest friends was my grandfather, Wesley. He embodied what it meant to be a good citizen, friend, husband and father.”

Steve grew up when the speed of life was more of a snail’s pace compared to what kids are facing now. “We spent our time with family and friends. It was more intimate being with the family and friends who were part of shaping the person you would become, and they dared you to dream. We could not text each other; we spent time together, talking, and visiting family and friends all of the time.” Steve recalled that the only distraction back then was an old TV that had four channels or a radio humming ’70s tunes in the background. “We spent our time outdoors playing, had chores, and spent time with our elder relatives building or fixing things. Growing up and many of life’s firsts had a bit more mystery. We had to find our way, and it took time. We all made mistakes in doing so, but they weren’t captured forever in a text, email, or video to be used decades later or relived over and over.”

Steve remembers SMR as a much different school in the 1980s. Then, Xaverian brothers and a nun, Sister Sally, taught alongside lay teachers. But Steve loved the flexible schedule with free time. “We had many fantastic teachers: Mr. Heibel, Mrs. Borland, Brother Anthony, Mrs. Kane, and Mr. Durbin, to name a few.”

But the most prominent differences include the creation of the MIL Corp. Family Field and the Donnie Williams Center. “Football, lacrosse, and theater/fine arts did not exist,” he said. It was such a different experience for Steve’s boys, who also attended SMR. Still, he said that some of his favorite moments back on the St. Mary’s Ryken campus as a parent will always be cheering for his kids in the stands while watching them play SMR football, wrestling and lacrosse. “I now realize how fortunate I was to have come of age with so many incredible people,” he said. “The friendships and the family that shaped my life as a teenager and through college grounded me and made me grateful for the opportunities I had and hopeful for the future.” Steve earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology, with an emphasis on law enforcement, from Western State College in Colorado, and a master’s degree in management and leadership from Webster University in Missouri. Before moving into law enforcement, he served as a social worker with the St. Mary’s County Department of Social Services.

But it was one of his role models, his Uncle Gerry, a police officer, who provided the example Steve was searching for in contemplating his career field. “My Uncle Gerry was a dedicated public servant and provider for my cousins; he is the sole reason I was initially attracted to law enforcement.”

Steve believes there are no accidents in life, including those who enter it. His relationships and experiences led him to fulfill his calling. “I’ve learned that being a police officer means you have to show up every day worthy of the immense responsibility bestowed on you. Be early, be ready, never give in, and repeat the exercise. You have to be true to the oath you swear to serve and protect. After all, your word, your good name, is all you have and all that matters. Never do anything to jeopardize it!”