Willie L Williams

A Los Angeles police lieutenant has filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the department, alleging that she was demoted in retaliation for reporting misconduct by former Police Chief Willie L. Williams. Kathleen Ann Sheehan, a lieutenant in the North Hollywood Division, claims that police officials allied with Williams retaliated against her for reporting alleged misconduct to the Police Commission in 1997.

A Los Angeles police lieutenant has filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against the department, alleging that she was demoted in retaliation for reporting misconduct by former Police Chief Willie L. Williams. Kathleen Ann Sheehan, a lieutenant in the North Hollywood Division, claims that police officials allied with Williams retaliated against her for reporting alleged misconduct to the Police Commission in 1997.

Willie L. Williams, Philadelphia police commissioner, has been appointed to succeed Daryl F. Gates as chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. * BORN: Oct. 1, 1943, in Philadelphia. * EDUCATION: Graduated Overbrook High School, 1960; two-year associate degree from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, 1982; attending St. Joseph's University.

Willie Williams, former Los Angeles police chief, was named federal security director of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday, one of the first directors appointed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. In response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the federal government is assuming control of security at 429 civilian airports.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, who soon will be required to act on the outcome of a politically delicate investigation of Police Chief Willie L. Williams, plans to meet in closed session with the Police Commission today, the mayor's office confirmed. The meeting is "part of the review process" the mayor has begun in connection with the matter, said Noelia Rodriguez, Riordan's press secretary.

The Northridge earthquake wasn't Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams' first: the Landers/Big Bear quake struck on his first day on the job in Los Angeles and gave him a taste of what was to come. And Philadelphia, where he lived before coming to Southern California, has a fault running through the northwest corner of the city. But the Northridge temblor, which caused $60,000 worth of damage to his Woodland Hills home, was the first to really affect him personally.

Deputy Chief Mark A. Kroeker, the San Fernando Valley's top Los Angeles police official and one of six finalists for the chief's job, pledged Thursday to work with new boss Willie L. Williams despite his deep disappointment over not being chosen. "Right now, the sentiment that I have is 100% support; there's no alternative," said Kroeker, 48, who for the past year has supervised about 1,500 officers assigned to the Valley.

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams and Deputy Mayor William C. Violante encountered optimism--and realism--in their quest Tuesday to line up federal funds to rebuild the shrinking L.A. police force. During a daylong series of meetings with California congress members, senators and Atty. Gen Janet Reno, the two officials made their pitch that Los Angeles should be at the front of the line when federal funds are allocated for more police on U.S. streets.

Police Chief Willie L. Williams, in a stinging rebuke to his own high-ranking staff, upbraided top Los Angeles Police Department officials Monday for failing to move more quickly to decentralize the department and for being slow to embrace change, according to sources inside the LAPD.

In a historic step designed to propel the Los Angeles Police Department on a course of sweeping reforms, the city Police Commission has selected Philadelphia Police Commissioner Willie L. Williams to succeed embattled Chief Daryl F. Gates as the department's top official.

Three years before Rafael Perez blew the whistle on allegedly rogue officers at the LAPD's Rampart Division, the specter of a group of problem officers, referred to at the time as the "Rampart Reapers," was raised during a closed-door session of the City Council, according to transcripts of the meeting.

Two years after the Police Commission rejected his application for a second term, former Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams has begun a new career--as an executive with a Dallas medical auditing company founded by his sister. Williams has been working as chief operating officer of Argus Services Corp. since January.

Two summers ago, Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker seriously considered leaving the Los Angeles Police Department. He wasn't going to be promoted and worse, he felt that his leadership was being undermined by his boss, then-Chief Willie L. Williams. But high-level city officials, including Mayor Richard Riordan, persuaded Kroeker to stay. Their message: Stick around and it will be worth your while. "I was given encouraging words," Kroeker said.

Two summers ago, Deputy Chief Mark Kroeker seriously considered leaving the Los Angeles Police Department. He wasn't going to be promoted and worse, he felt that his leadership was being undermined by his boss, then-Chief Willie L. Williams. But high-level city officials, including Mayor Richard Riordan, persuaded Kroeker to stay. Their message: Stick around and it will be worth your while. "I was given encouraging words," Kroeker said.

Willie L. Williams failed. Not as badly as some detractors would have you believe and not without registering some important accomplishments, but he nonetheless failed. And as a result, the Los Angeles Police Department squandered five critical years, depriving the city a rare opportunity for police reform. The former police chief failed because although well-meaning, he is not a leader.

Thank you for recognizing that Willie L. Williams restored the lost faith in the Los Angeles Police Department. Your May 18 editorial did not go far enough, though. A calm, nonconfrontational gentleman who tried to bring all sides together, Williams took office in an atmosphere in which his immediate predecessor delighted in inflaming many groups with his many insensitive pronouncements. So, what was wrong with Williams? As an outsider, he was not a member of the good old boys club.

In response to "Philadelphia Chief to Head LAPD," April 16: Congratulations, Los Angeles, in the selection of Willie L. Williams as the new Los Angeles police chief! He was not denied the position because of his color nor was he handed the position because of his color. Williams was chosen because he had the highest score and was the best person for the job. Is the rest of America listening? RICHARD BALMERT Rancho Palos Verdes

Several members of the Los Angeles City Council and Police Chief Willie L. Williams joined forces with gun control groups and community activists Monday in urging Congress not to repeal its historic ban on assault weapons. Citing polls showing that about 80% of Americans support the 1994 federal law, local leaders made emotional pleas. House Republican leaders, backed by the National Rifle Assn.

On his last official day as the LAPD's top man, Police Chief Willie L. Williams gave a hint of what his future might hold after stepping down from a sometimes stormy tenure with one of the nation's most-watched police departments. He played golf. And if the way the stocky Williams hit the ball Saturday morning was any indication, it is going to be a long, long retirement.

A sometimes contemplative, sometimes bitter Police Chief Willie L. Williams reflected Thursday on his five-year term at the helm of the Los Angeles Police Department, crediting himself with implementing important reforms, while also complaining that he was a "guinea pig" confronted with daily attempts by political leaders to meddle in departmental affairs.