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On Tuesday, Phoenix Police Chief Geri Williams announced plans to retire after a 33-year career in law enforcement. Williams did not set a specific date for her last day, saying only that it “will be sometime this summer.”
“After much prayer and consideration and in consultation with my family and city leadership, I have decided to make a change,” said Chief Williams. “There is never a perfect time to transition but the time feels right for me now to step aside. Just like when I felt called to do this job, I also feel called right now to go in a new direction, allowing me the rare opportunity to prioritize family and explore future endeavors.”
“Jeri Williams did an amazing job at the City of Phoenix given the toxic attacks on police we have witnessed in the past two years. She was able to balance her role as chief better than anybody could’ve expected,” said Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio referring to the anti-police attitude of members of the City Council. “I wish her the best and she did an incredible job for the citizens of Phoenix.”
Williams started her career with the Phoenix Police Department in 1989, working the same streets she grew up on with fellow Maryvale High School classmate and recently retired Phoenix Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner. Williams worked through the ranks eventually becoming an Assistant Chief before moving to Oxnard California in 2011 to serve as the Police Chief. She returned to the Phoenix Police Department in 2016 as Police Chief.
Sam Stone, former chief of staff for DiCiccio and a candidate for Phoenix City Council in District 6 said in a tweet that the Chief’s retirement “will not be good for Phoenix residents, or Phoenix PD. Chief Williams did a good job under the most difficult circumstances imaginable, her replacement is virtually guaranteed to be a “Let ’em Riot” leftist rollover.”
“Chief Williams has devoted her professional career to the city she loves,” said City Manager Jeff Barton. “Her passion for this community, her leadership through challenging times and her commitment to reforming and evolving the Phoenix Police Department will be missed as she makes this decision to retire.”
In a retirement announcement, Chief Williams notes some of the accomplishments she’s most proud of during the last nearly six years as Phoenix Police Chief, which includes everything from becoming fully compliant with the requirements for #8CANTWAIT to something as simple as getting cell phones for officers.
Chief Jeri Williams’ full statement on retirement plans:
In October of 2016, I accepted the opportunity to become the Phoenix Police Chief. I was honored, humbled, and blessed when I was selected from a large field of worthy and qualified candidates. I still feel that way today. In some ways, I still feel like I’m just a kid from west Phoenix who was blessed to grow up and play in the major leagues in my own backyard.
Now, a few months away from completing my 6th year as Chief, it is time to look to the future. After much prayer and consideration and in consultation with my family and city leadership, I have decided to make a change. There is never a perfect time to transition but the time feels right for me now to step aside. Just like when I felt called to do this job, I also feel called right now to go in a new direction, allowing me the rare opportunity to prioritize family and explore future endeavors.
When I was hired, I shared with the community that one of my mantras was “To whom much is given, much is required.” It means we must be responsible for all that we have. And that includes our beginnings and our endings and living not by circumstance but by choice.
As I make this choice to transition professionally, I am proud to have paved the way for this department to move forward in a positive manner while at the same time opening the door for the next Chief to enter. I hope they will enjoy the journey as much as I have while they lead the department through the next chapter in its history.
As I look back over my years as Phoenix Police Officer and Chief of Police, I am tremendously proud of several accomplishments. While that list is long, here are a few that stand out:
Body Worn Cameras for our officers and the community
Documenting every time an officer points a weapon at someone
Implementing less lethal response to encounters which has prevented some officer-involved shootings
Obtaining a new records management system
Something as simple as getting cell phones for officers
Standard processes like updating policies and procedures to mirror the changing expectations and demands of the community
Being transparent by showing the public Critical Incident Videos in 14-days or less
Becoming fully compliant with #8CAN’TWAIT
And relationships: Through all the highs and lows (and there have been many!) I am proud of the relationships we’ve built and maintained with our community, employees and both legal and law enforcement peers throughout the county, state and country.
I hope you can understand why these accomplishments are special to me. However, when all is said and done, the most rewarding work of all has been the honor and privilege to serve as the leader of the most amazing group of men and women, sworn and non-sworn, in all of law enforcement. So many of them have demonstrated integrity and courage with a job that has changed considerably and a work environment that is filled with challenging personal and political dynamics. So many of these folks, these cops, dispatchers, crime lab employees and many others still find the way to answer the call, do good police work and be transparent, trustworthy and accountable to each other and the community.
I am grateful to our city leaders, including Mayor and Council and City management, who have supported me and our department these last several years. Thank you for trusting me with confidence to keep our city safe.
A personal note of gratitude for my three men: Cody, Alan and Big Cody. I am blessed by them and eternally grateful to have their love and support.
So what’s next? My last day will be sometime this summer. I know there is going to be speculation and questions about where I am going and what I’m going to do next. All of that comes later. For the time being, there is nothing more important to me than working with City management as we develop a transition plan.
Finally, here’s what I want you to know: I’ve been a cop for 33 years. I still feel extremely proud and honored to put a badge and uniform on every day as a symbol of the oath I took in 1989 to serve and protect our community. It has been my extreme honor to serve this city and department as your Phoenix Police Chief.
Thank you and God Bless,
Chief Jeri Williams
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