The Indiana University Police Department is getting a new chief. Anthony Williams assumes the mantle of Deputy Superintendent and Chief Law Enforcement Officer next month.
Williams is lieutenant of operations at Northwest Missouri State University Police Department. He’s served there for 15 years, where he earned his bachelor’s and MBA.
The step is significant for Williams, who will go from directing operations at a campus with just over 10,000 students to a state-wide university with over 90,000.
“It will be a challenge,” Williams said. “But that's obviously why I decided to take on new things, because I’m looking for new challenges and opportunities.”
At his current role, he oversaw the expansion of the department’s crisis intervention training program. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2019.
Williams is scheduled to begin Aug. 1, the same day the IU Board of Trustees plans to implement its new expressive activity policy. If passed as written, it could increase the number of speech and protest scenarios requiring law enforcement intervention. It would also solidify rules forbidding the ongoing pro-Gaza encampment in Dunn Meadow.
Williams said he hasn’t read much on the policy proposal yet but appreciates that IU sought community input on the changes.
“Once I get onto campus, and once I get those things, I'm really excited to get into it and see if I have the chance to provide some feedback,” he said.
Organizers in Dunn Meadow plan to maintain the encampment into next semester. Williams said he’ll listen to his team before choosing a course of action.
“Whether we make good decisions, bad decisions, we’ll always reevaluate to make sure we made the best decision,” he said. “How can we add and how can we make things better?”
The IU Chief of Police reports directly to IU Public Safety Superintendent Benjamin Hunter. Williams said he was attracted to IUPD because he feels it shares his values for “equality, protection and service” in law enforcement.
“Speaking with Superintendent Hunter, I think we have kind of the same similar passion and strategy towards law enforcement with the community engagement,” he said.
Williams is replacing Jill Lees, the former IUPD Bloomington Chief IU dismissed last September after determining she mishandled an internal investigation. Lees's role was repurposed into a statewide position which Williams will fill.
Search firm Spelman Johnson guided an IU search committee’s 10-month hunt for a replacement.
