Willie L. Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1943 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 2016 (aged 72) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| 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 (October 1, 1943 – April 26, 2016) was an American police officer who served as the 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 Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department and the first African-American Chief of 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.