Jeri Williams was the first African American woman police chief of a major metropolitan police department. As Chief of the Phoenix Police Department, her job was to help people in need and follow through her oath that she took before becoming an officer.
Born in 1966, Jeri Jones was the oldest child with four other siblings, and raised by a single mom. Since her mother worked multiple jobs, Jeri took on a lot of responsibility from an early age. She learned to cook, and brought home an income to her family at an early age. She was born and raised in Maryvale, Arizona, but eventually came to view South Phoenix as her home. Jeri’s mother, Mildred Jones, was a well-known activist in the Valley of the Sun, known best for her contributions to the Phoenix chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
After high school, Jeri attended Texas Tech University. It was her first time leaving home, and she struggled to fully embrace college life. She left sophomore year, but later enrolled at Arizona State University. Looking back, she doesn’t think “failing out” was a bad thing. Instead, Jeri believes that her initial challenges with higher education made her the person she was supposed to become. She was successful at ASU, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 1988, even though she dabbled in other programs of study.
Throughout most of her life, Jeri lived in Maryvale, on the westside of Phoenix. But fate would brought her to South Phoenix. In 1990, Jeri was out at a nightclub with cousins when she met the love of her life, Cody Williams. They married and moved in together in a home surrounded by open fields and sleepy developments. Together, Jeri and Cody recognized the potential for growth and development in South Phoenix, and together they sought to bring changes to their hometown.
All the while, Jeri was experimenting with different careers. Initially, she thought she would be a flight attendant. At that time, flight attendants were expected to maintain certain height and weight standards. It did not take more than the first interview when Jeri’s wrists, arms, and waist were measured, for her to decide being a flight attendant wasn’t for her. Instead, she decided to join the police force. When she told her dad her plans, he assumed she wanted to be a dispatcher but, “No, Dad,” she said, “I’m gonna be a cop.”
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During Williams journey in the police department, she was very competitive with herself. Her self-described stubbornness made her second-guess herself and her decisions. But, thanks to her coworkers and her husband, she continually challenged herself to succeed. Within her first few years on the police force, Williams welcomed two sons in quick succession. She had to learn quickly how to juggle motherhood and a demanding high-stakes career. She found ways to prioritize her family and also succeed at her job.
Williams’ career took all over the city, though she often chose beats that kept her connected to the southside. Later, she was recruited to a high profile position with the Oxnard, CA Police Department. It just so happened that it was 2011, and her oldest son was attending college nearby, so Jeri and her son brought a little bit of home with them as they both sought new opportunities. Within a few years, Williams found her way back to Phoenix when she made history by becoming the first African American and female police chief of the Phoenix PD. The landmark announcement occurred on the same day that her son Alan, announced he would also be moving back to play for the Phoenix Suns.
The Williams family commitment to South Phoenix is a proud tradition carried on by Jeri, Cody, and their children. Each member of the family has proudly served the community in some way, and Jeri’s leadership has set the tone for this in many ways. In her 33 years of working in the police field Jeri Williams followed the oath she took to protect her city and the people living in it. Jeri still has many plans to serve the country and make people feel safe.
| Narrator | Jeri Williams |
| Birthdate | 1966 |
| Place of Origin | Phoenix, AZ |
| Place of Residence | South Phoenix, AZ |
| Role | Former Chief of Police, Phoenix PD |
| Years active in South Phoenix | 1990- |
| Interview Date | Feb 22, 2023 |
| Location | South Mountain Community College |
| Duration | 46:14 |
| Interviewed by | Student Researchers: Lizette Bustilos & Elizabeth Jaime Lira |
| Story Written by | Student Researchers: Lizette Bustillos & Elizabeth Jaime Lira and Faculty Researcher Dr. Summer Cherland |
South Phoenix Oral History Project 