Williams named new Portage police chief
NWI Times
Dec 20, 2011
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/portage/williams-named-new-portage-police-chief/article_d4b741f5-1b2f-5ebd-8427-b25d20b0d836.html
PORTAGE | Fifteen-year Portage police veteran Troy Williams was named Portage's next police chief Tuesday afternoon.
Mayor-elect James Snyder made the announcement to a gathering of more than 100 officers and others at the Portage Public Library. Williams, 41, who presently serves as the school resource officer, will take the reins of the 61-person department on Jan. 1.
"Everything that Troy has done, he's excelled," Snyder said of his choice. He added that the standing-room-only crowd in the meeting room was "an amazing sign of unity."
Snyder said 10 Portage police personnel applied for the chief's position. They were, he said, "great candidates, all qualified to lead."
Williams replaces Mark Becker. Becker, a former FBI agent, was not interviewed for the position after Snyder was elected mayor and resigned as chief effective Dec. 17.
In addition to his police work, Snyder said Williams is a "committed member of this community."
"Troy possesses the unique quality of having worked undercover where he brought criminals, drug dealers and gang members to justice, yet he has also protected our city's greatest resource, our youth in the Portage schools," Snyder said.
Williams, a father of two, is a lifelong Portage resident. He thanked his parents, John Williams and Michelle Connolly, former Portage chiefs and others who he said helped him along his way.
Williams said the department's focus will be to continue to ensure public safety, to continue to work with the schools, to continue to "aggressively enforce traffic laws," to establish neighborhood watches, work with senior citizens and develop relationships with various organizations.
He also said the department will "work to protect our citizens by identifying and arresting anyone involved in gang activity and drug trafficking."
Maj. John Johnston, Portage High School Marine Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor, also spoke during the news conference, saying Williams "is a guy who means not to do just a good job, but an outstanding job" and lauded him for his "tremendous perspective of our youth."
Troy Williams resume
- Graduated Portage High School in 1989
- Graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a degree in criminal justice in 2001
- Member of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1989 to 1995, serving in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm; received two Navy achievement medals, a good conduct medal and four letters of commendation
- Joined the Portage Police Department in 1996, serving two years with the Porter County Drug Task Force; member of the SWAT team
- School resource officer since 2006
- Named Indiana Police Officer of the Year in 2007; Portage Police Officer of the Year in 2006 and 2000; Portage Parks Department Volunteer of the year in 2006 and recipient of Portage Greater Chamber of Commerce "Putting Portage on the Map" award in 2006
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