Chief Jim Williams was appointed to the position of Chief of Police on July 1, 2003. Chief Williams began his career with the Staunton Police Department as a police officer in 1984. During his career, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal, Sergeant, and Captain, serving as shift commander, investigations unit commander, team leader of the Critical Incident Response Team, and Division Commander of the Community Involvement/Support Operations division. Williams received a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a graduate of the 183rd session of the FBI National Academy and the 47th session of the Senior Management Institute for Police. Chief Williams is a Past President of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and Immediate Past General Chair of the State Associations of Chiefs of Police division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.