Jeri Williams retired as the Police Chief of the Phoenix Police Department in September of 2022, a position that she held since October 2016. During her time as Chief, she led the largest police agency in the State of Arizona, which is responsible for providing law enforcement services to the fifth most populous city in the country.

Chief Williams oversaw a staff of nearly 4,000 employees and managed an annual operating budget that exceeds $700 million.

As a 32-year law enforcement veteran and accomplished police executive, Chief Williams let the Phoenix Police Department in advancing a number of progressive strategies essential in contemporary law enforcement.

Prior to her tenure with the Phoenix Police Department, she served nearly six years as Police Chief in the City of Oxnard, California where she advanced police-community relationships and oversaw the implementation of police body-worn cameras.

Chief Williams is a native Phoenician. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Police Executive Research Forum and the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Williams also held the office of President of the Major Cities Chief’s Association.

During Arizona’s Centennial year, Chief Williams was honored as one of Arizona’s 48 Most Intriguing Women by the Arizona Centennial Legacy Project, in partnership with the Arizona Historical Society and the Arizona Community Foundation for her leadership in the law enforcement profession. In 2016, she was recognized as California Assembly District 44 Woman of the Year for her leadership and outstanding accomplishments as Chief of the Oxnard Police Department. Later that year, President Obama appointed her to a membership position on the Medal of Valor Review Board. In 2020, Chief Williams was named to the United States Conference of Mayors Police Reform and Racial Justice Working Group, and in 2021, she was appointed to the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.