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| ==LAPD Police Chief (1992-1997)== | ==LAPD Police Chief (1992-1997)== | ||
| Williams was appointed as LAPD Chief, succeeding ]. | |||
| Williams, however, faced a difficult tenure as he was at odds with the members of the Los Angeles Police Commission appointed by newly elected mayor ]. He was also not popular with the LAPD rank-and-file, particularly when he did not cut short his vacation in Las Vegas to attend an officer's funeral. However, Williams was the most popular official in Los Angeles and he was credited with restoring confidence in the department. | |||
| Williams never took the POST exams required to become a peace officer in California. Not being POST certified, Williams as Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department could not make a felony arrest, and his provisional membership in the California Police Chiefs Association was terminated early in his tenure as Chief due to his lack of certification. The California legislature passed special legislation defining Chiefs of Police as peace officers regardless of POST certification so Williams could carry a firearm.<ref>''Daily News'', Los Angeles, CA, August 2, 1996.</ref> | Williams never took the POST exams required to become a peace officer in California. Not being POST certified, Williams as Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department could not make a felony arrest, and his provisional membership in the California Police Chiefs Association was terminated early in his tenure as Chief due to his lack of certification. The California legislature passed special legislation defining Chiefs of Police as peace officers regardless of POST certification so Williams could carry a firearm.<ref>''Daily News'', Los Angeles, CA, August 2, 1996.</ref> | ||
| In 1996, Williams published ''Taking Back Our Streets: Fighting Crime in America'', co-written with Bruce Henderson. The book discusses Williams's philosophy of community policing and his efforts to revive and retrain a demoralized police force. | In 1996, Williams published ''Taking Back Our Streets: Fighting Crime in America'', co-written with Bruce Henderson. The book discusses Williams's philosophy of community policing and his efforts to revive and retrain a demoralized police force. | ||
| In 1997, the Los Angeles Police Commission declined to renew his contract, citing Williams' failure to fulfill his mandate to create meaningful change in the department in the wake of the ] |
In 1997, the Los Angeles Police Commission declined to renew his contract, citing Williams' failure to fulfill his mandate to create meaningful change in the department in the wake of the ].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6D91539F932A25750C0A961958260 | last= Ayres Jr. | first= B. Drummond | title= Los Angeles Police Chief Will Be Let Go | date= March 11, 1997 | work=The New York Times | accessdate=April 8, 2008 }}</ref> | ||
| In 2002, Williams was appointed federal security director for ] in Atlanta by then U.S. Transportation Secretary ]. | In 2002, Williams was appointed federal security director for ] in Atlanta by then U.S. Transportation Secretary ]. | ||
Revision as of 02:31, 4 June 2014
| Willie L. Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1943-10-01) October 1, 1943 (age 81) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Police career | |
| Country | United States |
| Department | Philadelphia Police Department Los Angeles Police Department |
| Service years | 1967 - 1992 1992 - 1997 |
| Rank | Sworn in as an Officer - 1967 - Chief of Police - 1988, 1992 |
| Other work | Federal Security Director of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport |
Willie L. Williams (born 1 October 1943) was chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from 1992 to 1997, taking over after chief Daryl Gates' resignation following the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Williams was the first African-American police commissioner of both the Philadelphia Police Department and the LAPD. During his term as chief of the LAPD, he tried to create a positive image of the department and close the rift created between the police and black neighborhoods by the violent arrest of Rodney King in 1991.
Early life
Williams is an alumnus of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School.
Philadelphia Police Chief (1988-1992)
In June 1988, Philadelphia Police Chief Kevin M. Tucker stepped down as head of the Philadelphia Police Department to become a senior Vice President at PNC Bank. Willie Williams, who has been described as a protégé of Tucker, was chosen to succeed him. Upon taking office, Williams became the first African American police commissioner in Philadelphia history.
On July 31, 1990, Williams, then the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, One Hundred First Congress, Second Session on "The Increase of Homicides In Our Nation" also known as "Murder Rates: Why The Recent Rise?" In his testimony, Williams stated in part: "We must prevent the ready availability of handguns in America. It is for this reason, that I fully support the "Brady" legislation which would require a seven day waiting period when purchasing a handgun. Currently, there is a three day waiting period to purchase a handgun in Philadelphia and a two day waiting period across the rest of Pennsylvania.
"Furthermore, I support a total ban on the possession of handguns and semi-automatic weapons by members of the general public. Weapons such as these are not used as legitimate hunting weapons, unless we have lowered ourselves to prey upon human beings."
LAPD Police Chief (1992-1997)
Williams never took the POST exams required to become a peace officer in California. Not being POST certified, Williams as Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department could not make a felony arrest, and his provisional membership in the California Police Chiefs Association was terminated early in his tenure as Chief due to his lack of certification. The California legislature passed special legislation defining Chiefs of Police as peace officers regardless of POST certification so Williams could carry a firearm.
In 1996, Williams published Taking Back Our Streets: Fighting Crime in America, co-written with Bruce Henderson. The book discusses Williams's philosophy of community policing and his efforts to revive and retrain a demoralized police force.
In 1997, the Los Angeles Police Commission declined to renew his contract, citing Williams' failure to fulfill his mandate to create meaningful change in the department in the wake of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
In 2002, Williams was appointed federal security director for Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta by then U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
Resources
- Pick the Best Chief, Period. Los Angeles Times Jul 29, 2002.
| Police appointments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byKevin M. Tucker | Commissioner of Philadelphia Police Department 1988–1992 |
Succeeded byRichard Neal |
| Preceded byDaryl Gates | Chief of Los Angeles Police Department 1992–1997 |
Succeeded byBayan Lewis |
| Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department | |
|---|---|
| 1876–1900 | |
| 1900–1926 | |
| 1926–1950 | |
| 1950–2002 | |
| 2002–present | |
References
- ^ Warner, Bob (2012-06-20). "Former Police Commissioner Kevin M. Tucker dies at 71". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
- Daily News, Los Angeles, CA, August 2, 1996.
- Ayres Jr., B. Drummond (March 11, 1997). "Los Angeles Police Chief Will Be Let Go". The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2008.