Police Officer Rodney Hawkins staggered and asked for a glass of water when U.S. Magistrate Joan Azrack told him in Brooklyn Federal Court that he faces up to five years in prison on each of the two counts when he is sentenced in September.

The judge called a recess and Hawkins, 34, sat down in a chair and put his head down to compose himself.

When the hearing resumed 10 minutes later, Hawkins told the judge he had prepared bogus reports for accidents that never happened in exchange for cash.

He also admitted using an NYPD computer to trace the license plate of a vehicle that had been following the ringleader of the scam, Quentin Hawkins, who is not related to the cop.

The vehicle belonged to the FBI, said Brooklyn Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Alonso.

Alonso did not say how much money Rodney Hawkins received for his role.

Hawkins, who was assigned to the 70th Precinct in Flatbush, faces dismissal from the force.

His wife, Tosha Hawkins, 31, also is charged because her name appeared on a report as a passenger who was injured in an accident — which never occurred.

The feds charged a total of 67 people in the scheme and 38 defendants have pleaded guilty so far.

Authorities believe the scheme was the largest car accident fraud ring in state history. They estimate insurance companies were defrauded of about $1.5 million in bogus claims stemming from staged or nonexistent accidents.

A second cop, Edwin DeLoatch, is awaiting trial on charges he recruited people to participate in staged accidents.