Jerri Williams, a former officer with the Phoenix Police Department is making history as the first female Chief of Police. Williams will be introduced to the public in a news conference scheduled for Thursday morning in Phoenix.
Williams currently the Police Chief for Oxnard, California.
“I’m honored to have served the Oxnard community for the past five-and-a-half years,” Williams said in a statement. “I look forward to a new chapter in my career leading the Phoenix Police Department.”
.@alantwilliams was beyond excited for his mom, the new @phoenixpolice Chief!
Full video: https://t.co/VhfWrrfdybhttps://t.co/0mf1iFfngp
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 14, 2016
Williams’ husband, Cody Williams, is a justice of the peace. Alan Williams, a center for the Phoenix Suns, is her son.
Since 2011 Williams has been the Police Chief of Oxnard, California. In Oxnard she has overseen approximately 400 sworn and non-sworn employees and the management and operation of a $50 million budget. In addition, Williams managed with a focus on community based policing, oversaw the implementation of police body cameras, coordinated training on use of force, legal issues and technology topics for over 300 California law enforcement agencies and guided the department during several high-profile events including large-scale community protests.
Before California, Williams spent 22 years rising through the ranks of the Phoenix Police Department. After graduating from Arizona State University (ASU), she began her law enforcement career on the streets of Phoenix in 1988 as a police trainee. From 2009 to 2011 Williams was an Assistant Chief responsible for providing police protection to more than half of Phoenix’s 500-plus square miles and overseeing 1,000 sworn and non-sworn police employees.
The Phoenix Police Department has nearly 4,000 employees and seven precincts that cover 500 square miles serving 1.5 million residents. Current Police Chief Joseph Yahner will remain in his position during a transition period.
“As Chairman of the Phoenix City Council’s Public Safety and Veterans Subcommittee, I want to congratulate and welcome Jeri Williams on her appointment as the next Phoenix Police Chief. Chief Williams is no stranger to our community, she spent 22 years rising through the ranks of the Phoenix Police Department. Having worked with her during this time, I’ve seen first-hand, her deep involvement in our community. Chief Williams also understands the need to build bridges between residents and the Phoenix Police Department, an issue that is very important to me,” said Councilman Michael Nowakowski.
“I want to thank our City Manager, Ed Zuercher for a transparent recruitment process that involved advisory groups and community input. Chief Williams’ appointment is truly historic for Phoenix, we are now the largest city in the country with women leading our Police and Fire departments.” Nowakowski concluded, “I look forward to working with Chief Williams.”