Vallejo selects Shawny Williams as new Police Chief
Source: Anna Bauman | San Francisco Chronicle
The city of Vallejo on Friday announced that a new police chief has been hired to lead a department that has been in turmoil in recent years.
City Manager Greg Nyhoff selected Shawny Williams, a deputy chief for the San Jose Police Department, to oversee the department, according to a news release.
“Deputy Chief Williams is a solid professional with a stellar reputation who received broad accolades from our interview panels,” Nyhoff said. “I am excited to have Chief Williams join our community and our leadership team.”
Williams has worked for the San Jose Police Department for 26 years, most recently running the department’s 190-person bureau of investigations. He holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
“I look forward to participating in all aspects of the Vallejo community, building upon the Police Department’s community policing and engagement efforts, and tackling challenges together,” Williams said in a statement.
Vallejo’s Police Department has been criticized for its response to several notable incidents, from deadly police shootings and allegations of excessive force to an embarrassing saga in which police incorrectly accused a couple of faking their own kidnapping.
Williams will replace the department’s interim chief, Joe Allio, a former Fairfield police chief and South San Francisco police officer, who has served in the position since previous chief Andrew Bidou retired in June.
