Texas Police Officer by Day, DJ by Night: DJ Hambone Rises

In the city of Odessa, Texas, more times than not, when you hear sirens, it usually spells trouble.

One Odessa police officer is looking to change all that, one DJ beat drop at a time.  Meet Corporal Michael Hamilton, a veteran of the OPD who moonlights as a local DJ.  Hamilton towers over many of the people in Odessa at 6'3" and 315 pounds.

A man who is well known not only behind the wheel of a patrol car, but also behind a set of turntables.

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From Writing Tickets to Spinning Records

By day, Corporal Hamilton is your typical Odessa police officer who helps keep the streets of the Permian Basin safe. By night, he is known as DJ Hambone and can oftentimes be found at a local event or community functions serving beats instead of tickets.  He's finding ways to blend both law enforcement with entertainment in his unique style.

Origin Story

Originally hailing from Dallas, Texas, Hamilton confesses that he fell in love with breakdancing in the early 90s, and it eventually led to DJing after a challenge from one of the DJs local to his area.  This sparked a lifelong passion and love for mixing music.

He served as a Military Police Officer and K-9 in the U.S. Army and eventually moved to Midland and joined the Odessa Police Department in 2014.

A Bridge Between Worlds

DJ Hambone has been known to use music as a bridge.  He can often be found at charity events or school dances, where he uses music to connect with the youth of the region.

I want to be relatable. Kids don't often respond to authority, but they'll remember the cop who showed up, danced with them, and dropped a killer mix. -Michael "DJ Hambone" Hamilton

As an official DJ for the West Texas Desert Hawks and a fixture at local nonprofit events, Hamilton is proof that being a police officer isn't all about enforcing the law; it's about connecting with the community.

Fighting crime or rocking a crowd, DJ Hambone shows Odessa that the badge just doesn't protect and serve, it can party too!

Read More: Midland-Odessa Rent Prices Continue to Climb in 2025

Social Media Famous

A recent video from an Odessa Juneteenth event was filmed for social media and expresses his unique skills as a dancer as well.  Needless to say, the crowd definitely seemed to enjoy it.