"Willie L. William."(born October 1 1943)

Was chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from 1992-1997,taking over after chief Dary Gate's resignation following the 1992 Los Angeles riots,Willie was the first African-American police commissioner of both the Philadelphia Police Department and the LAPD,he tried to create a positive image of the department and close the rift created between the police and black neighborhoods by the violent arrest of Rodney King in 1991.Willie never took the POST exam required to become a peace officer in California.Not being post certified,Willie as Chief of the LAPD could not make a felony arrest,and his provisional membership in the California Police chiefs Association was terminated early in his tenure as Chief due to his lack of certification.The California legislature passed special legislation defining Chiefs of Police as peace officers regardless of POST certification so Willie could carry a firearm.On July31,1990,Willie,then the Philadelphia Police Commissioner,testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee,One Hundred First Congress,second Session on "the increase of homicides in Our Nation"also known as "Murder Rates:Why The Recent Rise?"In this testimony,Willie stated in part:"We must prevent the ready availability of handguns in America.It is for this reason,that i fully support the "Brady"legislation which would require a seven day waiting period when purchasing a handgun.Currently,there is a three day waiting period to purchase a handgun in Philadelphia and a two day waiting period across the rest of Pennsylvania."Furthermore,i support a total ban on the possession of handguns and semi-automatic weapons by members of the general public.Weapons such as these are not used as legitimate hunting weapons,unless we have lowered ourselves to prey upon human beings."In 1996,Willie published Taking Back Our Streets Fighting Crime in America,co-written with Bruce Henderson.The book discusses Willie philosophy of community policing and his efforts to retrain a demoralized police force.In 2002,Willie was appointed federal security director for Hartsfield Atlanta Internation  Airport in Atlanta by then U.S.Transportation secretary Norman Mineta.Willie is an alumnus of Philadelphia's Overbrook High School.