On June 18, then-Daytona Beach Police Chief Byron K. Williams was honored at a Juneteenth dinner in Daytona Beach.
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Former Daytona Beach Police Chief Byron K. “BK” Williams will be officially sworn in next week as Holly Hill’s first Black police chief. The inauguration ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on July 9 at City Hall.
“When I saw the opportunity open up, we all know the issues that have arisen, but I saw the need there. I feel well qualified. I have the passion and desire to be a part of change at the agency,” Williams told The Daytona Times.
Reflecting on being the city’s first Black police chief, he said, “It’s an honor. I don’t dwell on it. I’m focused on the job, what I can do for the department. I’m grateful for that. The presentation is what got me to where I am today.”
Williams is a veteran law enforcement officer who served with the Daytona Beach Police Department for 25 years. Williams has held the rank of Inspector since 2017 and has led the city’s emergency management operations. He has worked in patrol, criminal investigation and administrative roles.
“What the mayor and the hiring committee found in me was my experience. They thought I was a perfect fit for the agency,” Williams said about the Holly Hill police chief position. “Being the first Black chief is something to highlight, but I want to focus on my own abilities and standards to perform the job.”
Dealing with the “dark clouds”
Holly Hill police station has been hit by several issues, including sexual harassment allegations that have led to the resignation of the former chief and two other senior officers. One sergeant has also been demoted.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office closed its investigation into those sexual harassment allegations last month.
“I have a vision and a plan to change the culture and direction of the agency, so that we can get the agency back to what it should be – a great organization, with a great group of men and women working there,” Williams said.
“They’re just so amazing and so dedicated to the profession of law enforcement and they’re showing that by what they’re doing right now. They’re working right now despite the dark shadow that’s hanging over the police department. They’re on patrol and they’re on the job serving the community and keeping the community safe.”
Focus on your training
Williams plans to use transparency, dialogue and training as part of his plan to turn around the department.
“I would love to sit down and talk with every officer, one-on-one, to discuss what I think is best for the community and for the police department. I want to get to know them and I want them to get to know me. There are fears about what’s coming and I want them to know I’m on their side,” Williams emphasized.
“I want to focus on training as a key part of this transition. We will mandate training on de-escalation, sexual harassment, diversity, etc.”
The other part is to focus on changing the culture that exists, making sure that our male and female officers feel safe coming to work and look forward to coming to work.”
“I dreamed of becoming a chief.”
Williams is ready to lead a law enforcement agency. The Holly Hill Police Department has 31 employees, including 26 full-time officers and five civilians. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Holly Hill’s population at more than 13,000. Williams plans to add two more officers.
“This is something I’ve always wanted. Early in my career, I never imagined it would happen. As I started to move through the promotions and management roles, I knew I wanted to be chief. I still have a lot of passion left in me,” Williams said.
“After 25 years as a police officer, many officers consider retiring or leaving the profession. I still have a lot I want to do and I feel I can make a big difference to a great organization. When this opportunity came up, it was a no-brainer to apply.”
For Williams, his colleagues at DBPD remain special.
“I’m going to miss the camaraderie there. From patrol to investigations to administration, there are great people there that I love dearly and they’ll live just a few blocks away,” he said. “I want to make sure our relationships there are strong and I look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Daytona Beach Police Department and the Holly Hill Police Department.”
Williams is a Quincy native and graduated from Bethune-Cookman University with a Master’s in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Supervisory Management. He and his wife, Lonette, have two children.
