Norman D. Williams began his career with the Wichita Police Department in 1975 as a Patrol Officer. During his 32 years with the Police Department, he moved up through the ranks, earning promotions to Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief.

On April 14, 2000, he was appointed Chief of Police for the Wichita Police Department. As the Commander of the Department, he is responsible for managing a $69 million budget and supervising 862 employees.  The Wichita Police Department is the largest police department in the state of Kansas and serves a population base of 360,000 citizens and visitors.

During his tenure as Chief, the Wichita Police Department has gained national recognition for its outstanding investigative work and community-based approach to addressing crime and quality of life issues. In 2003, the Department was awarded the Boy Scouts of America Whitney Young, Jr. Community Service Award for its Camp Awareness Program.  The Department was also selected as a winner of the 2003 Webber Seavey Excellence in Law Enforcement Award for its Planeview Project.  The Wichita Police Department is the only police department in the world to garner Webber Seavey Award recognition three times; twice a winner of the Webber Seavey (1996 and 2003) and once as a top 10 finalist  (2000).

Most notably, in 2005, the Wichita Police Department, under the administration of Chief Williams, solved the BTK homicides.  The BTK investigation spanned 30 years, but was solved in 11 months after BTK (Dennis Rader) resurfaced in March of 2004.

In September 2006, the Wichita Police Department began a federal investigation into the Neighborhood Crips gang criminal operations. After a yearlong investigation approximately 40 individuals were charged federally with drive-by shootings, drug trafficking crimes, robbery and murder. Twenty-eight of the defendants were charged with Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This is the first time in the history of the State of Kansas that the RICO Act has been used.

Different aspects of the Wichita Police Department are featured regularly on national television shows such as Cold Case Files, COPS, 48 Hours and many other documentary-type shows.  Under Chief Williams command, the Department has continually studied process improvements, and implemented a number of programs and strategies for enhancing the Department’s customer service and overall efficiency.

            During his first year, Chief Williams sought input from the community and Department members in developing a new Mission and Value statement for the organization.  Ultimately, Command Staff developed a Mission Statement that is reflective of the Department’s community policing philosophy and focuses on problem solving in partnership with citizens.  He also directed the development of three Strategic Agendas (2000-2003, 2003-2006 and 2007-2011) for the Department that is designed to enhance the Department’s community policing approach to solving and preventing crime.

During his administration the Department, in cooperation with Wichita State University, conducted two stop studies, in 2001 and 2004, to determine if Wichita Police Officers were using racial profiling in citizen stops.  Both studies rank nationally as the largest and most comprehensive racial profiling studies ever conducted.  The findings of both studies did not support charges that racial profiling exists in Wichita.  Nonetheless, the Department implemented a number of proactive initiatives concerning citizen stops that were successfully executed and recognized by the national Police Executive Research Forum. 

In 2003, in response to city growth, the City Council granted approval for Chief Williams to add two new beats to the city’s beat structure.  The addition of the two beats on the east and west sides of the city allowed for a faster response to 911 calls and enhanced customer service.

Some of his other major accomplishments as Chief include neighborhood-basing the Traffic Section and the development and implementation of the Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan; re-structuring the Professional Standards Bureau making it more accessible and customer friendly; and implementing the Victim’s Assistance Unit.

Significant infrastructure and equipment acquisitions include a new Property and Evidence facility, a MD 500 helicopter, a methamphetamine vehicle, a bomb truck and a SWAT truck.  Technological advancements for the Department include a new public safety records system acquired in 2003, the addition of networked computers for detectives and officers, and the creation of a police situation/briefing room that is technologically advanced which can serve as a command center and/or a strategic planning center.

In 2004, Chief Williams was tasked with the ongoing responsibility of all City Hall campus security.  This assignment followed on the heels of the Wichita Police Department being assigned the responsibility of enhancing the City’s overall Homeland Security efforts.

Also in 2004 he was named to the Vision Task Force for the Visioneering Wichita project, a community planning and implementation process that will produce a shared vision for the community and the region.

Chief Williams has received numerous awards and recognitions.  His professional awards include: Wichita Police Department’s highest award, the Gold Wreath of Honor; five Department Bronze Wreaths of Meritorious Service; the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department Bronze Wreath of Meritorious Service; the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Gold Medal of Valor; induction into the Miami National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame Honor Roll; and the United States Attorney’s Office District of Kansas Certificate of Appreciation.

Community recognitions include: Outstanding Community Service Award; Black Achievers Award; NAACP Image Award; Service and Progress to Humanity Award; Ministerial League Police Officer of the Year; Independent Insurance Women Police Officer of the Year; the Native American and Hispanic Coalition Appreciation Certificate; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Distinguished Community Service Award; and the Gamma Upsilon Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Citizen of the Year-2001. In 2006, he was selected as the Urban News Best Police Officer of the Year.

Chief Williams’ education includes a Masters Degree in Public Administration; a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice; and a Mini-Masters of Business Administration, all from Wichita State University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, and the Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government at Harvard University.

He has participated in the following selective training: Law Enforcement Executive Leadership, Wichita State University; Midwest Criminal Justice Institute Law Enforcement Leadership; Leadership Wichita Program; Local Government Executive Development Program; U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, and the National Crime Prevention Institute.

In 2005 Chief Williams was selected to the Sedgwick County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and in the prestigious Leadership Kansas 2005 session.

Chief Williams has shared his knowledge of law enforcement and public administration by serving as an adjunct professor at Wichita State University.  He serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools, Advisory Board member for Tabernacle Baptist Church Cares Tutoring program, and also finds time in his busy schedule to volunteer at several social service agencies, to mentor and tutor youth at the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas.

Chief Williams attributes his success to his spiritual commitments, family and friends, and the support of the community and Police Department members.

Contact Chief Norman Williams at: NWilliams@wichita.gov