Petaluma selects new police chief

After a lengthy search, City Manager John Brown announced today his selection for Petaluma police chief -- Chief Patrick Williams from the city of Desert Hot Springs, Calif.

Williams beat out 41 other candidates, including local Interim Chief Dan Fish and Lt. Dave Sears, who were both vying for the job. Fish will now move into a lieutenant's rank alongside Sears. Williams is scheduled to begin as chief on Aug. 13.

Williams leaves his chief post in Desert Hot Springs, with its population of 28,000, after five years of service. Brown said that Williams has been widely recognized and praised there for his community-based policing philosophy, reduction in crime rates, improvement of quality of life for residents, introduction of best practices to the department and securement of funding for public safety.

"Chief Williams experience is tailor-made for what we need in Petaluma," said Brown. "We are excited to be able to hire a chief of Williams' versatility and caliber who will take an already great department to the next level."

Williams' career in law enforcement spans nearly thirty years with positions in Newport Beach, San Jacinto, Palm Springs and Lompoc. In addition to serving as police chief in Desert Hot Springs, he was also the assistant city manager for Public Safety-related services and has served as a city councilmember in San Jacinto.

Williams and his wife Shirley have five children.