SA Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams wins another three years

South Australia’s most senior female police officer – Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams – has been reappointed for another three years.

Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams has just been reappointed another three years. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

South Australia’s Deputy Police Commissioner, Linda Williams, has been reappointed for another three years.

The first woman to hold the position in SAPOL, Ms Williams said it was “a great honour’’ to be asked to continue in the role after her existing contract ends in August.

“I love being part of the police force and being able to serve the community of SA; I am very pleased,’’ she said.

Ms Williams, who began her career as a cadet in 1980 when aged 17, was appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2015. She said the past five years had “been like the blink of an eye’’ and she had relished her role as operational commander of almost every area of SAPOL.

Her daily operational command covers imperatives arising from overnight incidents, tactical and strategic issues, overseeing the crime command, metropolitan and country operations, operations support, security, and emergency management areas of the department. She also works closely on projects with fellow deputy commissioners around the country and chairs the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear subcommittee of the Aus­tralian-New Zealand Coun­­ter-Terrorism Committee.

In 2006, Superintendent Linda Williams takes over at Holden Hill. Picture: Cathy Davis

In 2015 Linda Williams is named new Deputy Commissioner. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“I like the fact it is never predictable,” Ms Williams said. “You get presented with a new or unique problem and you have to break it down and work out how to approach it, how to deal with it.

“I like that diversity and complexity and working with people to solve problems.”

“What has happened with COVID-19 is a very good example of that. We have done things we have never confronted before and interacted many people who have probably never had contact with police before.’’

When Ms Williams was appointed Deputy Commissioner, she shunned the tags of “trailblazer and role model’’, but has since realised how significant her appointment was for all female police officers.

“Five years ago, I probably tried to not see myself in that role, but I have realised it is an important one,’’ she said.

“The comments I have received from within SAPOL and the community have caused me to reflect and appreciate it is a significant ach­ievement and what I do and how I do it is really important to send a signal to people that this profession is an equal-opportunity employer.

“I have reflected on that and can see that what I do and how I do it is important to demonstrate that role-model behaviour.

“I think my reaction at the time was just a natural inclination to maybe not seek the limelight.’’

Rewriting history books as six female commissioned officers (front l-r) Yvette Clark with Linda Fellows, Linda Williams, (back l-r) Madeleine Glynn, Bronwyn Killmier and Joanne Shanahan.

Still extremely modest, Ms Williams cited other senior female officers including Assistant Commissioner Linda Fellows, former assistant commissioners Madeleine Glynn and Bronwyn Killmier and Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan – who tragically died in a car smash three weeks ago – as leaders in this regard, too.

“And, at present, we have the highest rate of female officers in SAPOL’s history. I am enormously proud to have been a part of that, too,” she said.

A close friend of Chf-Supt Shanahan’s, Ms Williams she said policing – and her many friends – were poorer because of her death.

“I always admired Jo’s positive outlook. She was very much a people person,” Ms Williams said.

“She fostered good relationships across various areas of government but, more importantly, I admired the way she put people at the centre of everything she did.

“Policing will miss her and, on a personal level, I will miss her dearly.’’

A 40-year veteran of SAPOL, Ms Williams said some aspects had been what she had expected – such as working as a close team with Policer Commissioner Grant Stevens, who was also reappointed for another three years last month, and other senior officers.

But other aspects had been different from her expectations. And while the past five years had passed rapidly, Ms Williams said some of her strongest memories revolved around when police officers and civilian employees were lost on duty.

Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams reflects on her reappointment. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt

“I look at them and it always affects me and I ask ‘Could we have done better, could we have done it differently and what did we miss?’,’’ she said.

Ms Williams said the death of the four traffic officers in Melbourne last month had caused her to reflect on those lost in SA in incidents while on duty.

“It is something that is such a normal part of our policing business,” she said.

“We put ourselves on roads, we are out of our vehicles and cars are going past.

“It is one of the most dangerous situations when you think about it.

“We train our people and try to get the community’s respect for us when we are out there doing those things, but even with the best of planning it is still a dangerous situation.’’

Police Minister Corey Wingard praised Ms Williams, stating she “has done a great job since taking over the role’’.

“A key example was when she was in command during our worst bushfire season on record,” he said.

“She was calm and reassuring, I was proud to stand alongside her at many of the media briefings as that situation unfolded.’’