Lithonia begins search for new police chief

Lithonia is looking for a new police chief just over a year after the city hired its last police chief, Annette Williams.

As The Champion reported earlier, Williams became DeKalb County Police Department’s first Black female lieutenant and the first Black female captain of a unit.

Williams also became the first female police chief of Lithonia Police Department when she was hired Oct. 15, 2018. However, Williams has taken a position in another field, according to Lithonia City Administrator Lathaydra Sands.

“[Williams] got a job offer that she couldn’t refuse,” Sands said.

In the meantime, Interim Police Chief Barren Newton has stepped into the role, but Newton plans to go back into retirement once the city hires its new police chief, Sands explained.

Lithonia is looking for someone to implement long-term and short-term goals and who is P.O.S.T certified.

According to gapost.org, the goal of the Georgia Peace Officers Standard and Council Training is “to provide the citizens of Georgia with qualified, professionally trained, ethical and competent peace officers and criminal justice professionals.”

Williams told The Champion that her goals included strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the residents of Lithonia while finding ways to get more officers on duty.

Sands said that Lithonia plans to fill the opening by February.