Megan Cassidy, and Dustin Gardiner

The Republic | azcentral.com

The city of Phoenix made history on Wednesday, naming Oxnard police chief and Phoenix police veteran Jeri Williams as its first female police chief.

She will take the helm from current Chief Joe Yahner, who is scheduled to retire in October.

Williams has served in Oxnard since 2011 but maintained roots in the Valley — her husband, Cody Williams, is a justice of the peace and former city councilman, and her son, Alan Williams, is a center for the Phoenix Suns.

Jeri Williams, who framed herself as the insider with outside leadership experience, edged out two other finalists: D.C. Assistant Chief Peter Newsham and Phoenix police Assistant Chief Mike Kurtenbach.

“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."

Williams will be introduced to the public in a news conference scheduled for Thursday morning in Phoenix.

Williams' hire is historic, both for the department and for the city at large. Her hiring will make Phoenix the largest city in the nation to employ both a female police chief and fire chief, according to Vice Mayor Kate Gallego. Chief Kara Kalkbrenner became the first woman to lead the Phoenix Fire Department in 2014.

"We're making history today," Gallego said.

Williams is expected to assume the post in October, according to the city.

Rose through ranks of Phoenix police

Williams spent 22 years rising through the ranks of the Phoenix police before becoming Oxnard's chief in 2011. She served as an assistant chief in Phoenix from 2009 to 2011, when she was responsible for more than half of the city's area and oversaw 1,000 sworn and non-sworn employees.

In Oxnard, Williams has led about 400 sworn and non-sworn employees and oversaw the management of a $50 million budget. The Phoenix Police Department has nearly 4,000 employees on its payroll, covers 500 square miles and serves 1.5 million residents.

Williams was ultimately chosen by City Manager Ed Zuercher but was interviewed by various city and police officials, as well as community members.

Though the field of 65 applicants was narrowed to three, most city and police officials agreed the choice really came down to the two insiders.

The last outside hire for Phoenix police chief, Dallas police veteran Daniel Garcia, clashed immediately with the department’s unions. His tenure was marked by various disputes — among them firing decisions and uniform policies — but the tensions hit a boiling point in November 2014, when the unions held a “no confidence vote” for Garcia after a fired officer’s suicide.

Garcia was ultimately fired for insubordination in December 2014 after holding a blistering news conference where he unloaded on his critics, including the unions, and demanded a two-year contract. Yahner took the reins thereafter, first as interim and then as permanent chief.

'Knows the Phoenix police way'

Police chief finalists answer Phoenix residents' questions

“I think that after experiencing our last external candidate, we realized that there is a lot to gain from selecting somebody that knows the Phoenix police way,” said Sean Mattson, president of the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association.

Mattson defined the “Phoenix police way” as a department that prides itself on close ties to the community, being proactive and using community-based solutions in problem-solving.

“And Jeri Williams does that,” Mattson said. “That’s the one thing that Garcia did not have, is knowing the value of having that relationship with the community.”

While a spokeswoman said the city hasn’t determined Williams’ salary amount, she’s poised to earn a six-figure paycheck at the same time she collects a pension.

Williams already receives a roughly $84,100 annual pension from her previous career at the city. She began drawing a pension when she retired from Phoenix in early 2011, after nearly 22 years on the force.

Williams cannot add to her pension amount, but state law still requires the city to make contributions to Arizona’s public-safety retirement system on her behalf. Phoenix spokeswoman Julie Watters said the city must contribute 40 percent of Williams’ paycheck.

Although Williams will not earn another pension, Watters said, she will receive deferred compensation, like other city executives. Deferred compensation is another retirement plan, similar to a 401(k).

Reputation for being direct, honest, empathetic

Phoenix police Cmdr. Kevin Robinson said he’s known Williams for her entire career and that she has a reputation in the department as a direct, honest and empathetic leader.

“I do not believe that there is a better choice in all of law enforcement in the entire U.S. than Jeri Williams at this time, and for the Phoenix Police Department,” he said.

Robinson said Williams is prepared to take on the complex issues involving race and policing — a national conversation that reignited last week after two black men were killed by officers in Minnesota and Louisiana, and five Dallas police officers were killed by a sniper.

“I don’t think it has as much to do with race or ethnicity as it does with competence,” Robinson said of Williams. “I’ve been around for 35.5 years, and personally I would never want to compete against Jeri Williams.”

Local Pastor Warren H. Stewart Jr. said Williams’ Phoenix origins will help her take ownership of the city and make it a better place.

“It’s almost like LeBron going back to Cleveland,” he said. “He wanted to get a win for his city. She can do the same.”

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said Williams had a reputation for community policing prior to her departure in 2011.

“I was very impressed with not only her leadership, but strategic thinking and her empathy towards the homeless community,” he said. “I became a fan at that time and remained a fan, and think she’ll be a great leader of our department.”