Episode 78 | Voices from the Field: National Police Week 2024

Narrator: You're listening to Public Safety First, a podcast to help you learn about the First Responder Network Authority and how you can be part of the future of public safety technology.

And now, your host.

Harry Markley: Hello, everybody. I'm Harry Markley. I'm the Law Enforcement Senior Advisor for the FirstNet Authority. I'm a retired assistant chief from the Phoenix Police Department and I've been with the Authority about six and a half years. I'd like to welcome you to the Public Safety First podcast. My guest today is Chief Jeri Williams. She is the retired Chief from the Phoenix Police Department. Chief Williams is a 33-year law enforcement veteran. She was the first female chief of the Phoenix Police Department, and she's received numerous accolades and awards for her dedication to law enforcement. I have personally known Chief Williams since her very first day in the academy. Outstanding person, outstanding law enforcement officer, and really pleased to have her here today.

Jeri Williams: So, Harry, first and foremost I'd be remiss if I didn't kind of give you a shameless plug. So, Harry was one of my assistant chiefs when I came back home to Phoenix in 2016 and was really a joy to work with because I had someone who really had my back and understands the importance of our first line officers. So, thank you for creating this opportunity and this space to talk about those of our officers who died in the line of duty.

Harry Markley: So, Chief Williams, first of all, tell us what drove you to public safety?

Jeri Williams: So, fresh from college, my mom told me I had two options — you got to work or go to school. I finished with school, so I had to find a job. Fortunately for me, the Phoenix Police Department partnered with the Phoenix Occupational and Industrial Commission in the Recruitment of Minority Personnels who were looking for people of color and women to be police officers. And that was 1988. And at the time, my family was always involved in public service so that wasn't foreign to me. But also, the issue of pay equity, having a retirement and having no day that was the same was really intriguing to me. So, I kind of fell into law enforcement.

I will say that some of my superiors saw leadership skills and abilities in me that I don't think that I knew that I had at the time. Rose through the ranks very proudly with the Phoenix Police Department and retired in 2011 as an assistant chief to be the police chief in Oxnard, California.

Harry Markley: Being a Phoenix native, I know a lot about the city and a lot about the state. And I know that law enforcement, especially in 1988, was not very well represented by women or by African Americans. So, I know that you were very groundbreaking when you came along.

As you look at your career, what's your proudest moment and your greatest accomplishment over your law enforcement career?

Jeri Williams: Gosh, Harry. So, that's $1 million question always. So, to me is really accomplishing all the things that we set out to accomplish, to include the implementation of body worn cameras, making adjustments on the fly to policy, really caring about our officers and showing that we care about our officers by attending events, talking to them personally, those kinds of things.

Having been elected the first female police chief of the Major City Chiefs Association unopposed was one of those things that you kind of look back and say, “Holy smokes.” So, I have 70-plus chiefs in the country who are major city chiefs who trust me to be their voice in law enforcement. So, I would chalk those up to some of the majors.

Harry Markley: As you know, this is National Police Week. During my almost 32-year career, there were 21 officers killed in the line of duty for the Phoenix Police Department. I can honestly tell you I knew all 21 of them. And, in fact, my last year in the police department, I went to National Police Week with you. We were putting a name on the wall.

So, tell me a little bit about National Police Week and what that means to you and the law enforcement community.

Jeri Williams: We are honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. You talked about the 20-plus folks during your tenure. As a police chief during my tenure, there were six folks who died in the line of duty. So, when I think of Police Week, I think of the opportunity to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, while at the same time really losing a part of your soul, so to speak. Because as the boss, right, it's my job to protect the people that I work with and serve. And having someone die in the line of duty are just some of those moments that you literally never forget.

Harry Markley: And, you know, we talk about Police Week. We talk about honoring the police officers that were killed in the line of duty, but I think another important part is just a chance for the family to get the support from the nation when it comes to the loss that their family suffered. So, the importance of that week, I think, is to support the families and also to let them know that law enforcement as a profession is there for them for the remainder of their lives. I mean —

Jeri Williams: Absolutely.

Harry Markley: We can tell you stories of police officers that were killed in the line of duty and then, you know, their kids’ first day back to school, you know, starting school year after their parents died —

Jeri Williams: Officers show up. The entire department shows up. Yeah.

Harry Markley: Exactly. They show up in uniform and escort those kids to school. I think that the fraternity of police is just amazing. And the fact that, you know, we have Police Week, although it's a very solemn event, I think the message of support and understanding is just amazing.

What message would you like to share with your peers about this week?

Jeri Williams: So, Harry, you mentioned so many things that trigger both joy and sorrow. You talk about it being a solemn event. When you're on Capitol Mall during the candlelight vigil and you look, and you see all of the candles being lit. I was fortunate to be able to read the names of the officers who died in the line of duty from Phoenix PD. And I can still remember standing there in that moment, looking out in that crowd, and feeling both proud and sad simultaneously, but wanting to make sure that I read that name 1,000% right. Because there are family members out in that audience, there are colleagues in that audience.

And I think that the message would be, first to the families — when we say we're a police family, we really mean it. I've seen officers going to the graduation ceremony of kids who are graduating from high school or college post having a parent die in the line of duty.

And then at the same time, to your point, having personally known a number of these officers reminds me to say a little prayer for them and their families. I won't ever know what that experience is losing someone like that. But at the end of the day, we want those families always to know that their loved ones will never be forgotten.

Harry Markley: Very good points. And I will say for those that are listening, if you've never been to Police Week, first of all, if you've never lost someone in a line of duty, you're so lucky and I hope it never happens. But if you do, it's very important that you attend and be there to support the family and the other families that are there.

And Chief Williams mentioned the candlelight service. You know, it's interesting because that starts with one single flame that they light a candle on and that flame gets passed on to thousands and thousands of candles that are displayed out there on capitol mall, each held by a police officer or a family member or another person representing a family. It's just an incredible, solemn, heartbreaking, and joyous thing all in one to experience, I think is really amazing.

Just speaking personally for my police department, the Phoenix Police Department, we've lost about 45 officers in the line of duty. A message to their families and their coworkers that we think about you every day, not just during Police Week. We recognize and we honor the sacrifice and also the work that you currently do every day.

Police work is a noble profession. You know, when I came on in 1986, I remember my field training officer said to me, “Why do you want to do this?” And I remember thinking to myself, this is the best job I've ever had.

So, for those folks that are out there working every day, taking a call, sitting in a corner office, training at the academy, whatever your position happens to be, we thank you for your service. We honor the sacrifices of the people that came before you.

Chief Williams, we really appreciate your time today. I know that you're a very busy person, and I know that even though you're retired, you're still connected tremendously to public safety. and we appreciate that.

Jeri Williams: Thank you.

Narrator: Thanks for listening today. We're excited to have you join our podcast community. Make sure to subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, and YouTube. You can learn more about the First Responder Network Authority at FirstNet.gov and learn about FirstNet products and services at FirstNet.com.