Willie L. Williams
Encyclopedia
Willie L. Williams 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.
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.
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 this 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."
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 2002, Williams was appointed federal security director for Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta by then U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta
.
Williams is an alumnus of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School
.
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
(LAPD) from 1992 to 1997, taking over after chief Daryl Gates
Daryl Gates
Daryl Gates was the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from 1978 to 1992.-Early life:...
' resignation following the 1992 Los Angeles riots
1992 Los Angeles riots
The 1992 Los Angeles Riots or South Central Riots, also known as the 1992 Los Angeles Civil Unrest were sparked on April 29, 1992, when a jury acquitted three white and one hispanic Los Angeles Police Department officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King following a...
. Williams was the first African-American police commissioner of both the Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia Police Department
The Philadelphia Police Department is the police agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
and the LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
. 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
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
in 1991.
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.
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 this 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."
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 2002, Williams was appointed federal security director for Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta by then U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta
Norman Mineta
Norman Yoshio Mineta, is a United States politician of the Democratic Party. Mineta most recently served in President George W. Bush's Cabinet as the United States Secretary of Transportation, the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary in the Bush administration...
.
Williams is an alumnus of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School
Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-School:...
.
Resources
- Pick the Best Chief, Period. Los Angeles Times Jul 29, 2002.