Chief of Police
Springfield Police Department
Paul F. Williams has more than 34 years of law enforcement experience. He came to Springfield after serving with the Tulsa Police Department, retiring at the rank of major. He instructs criminal justice courses at Missouri State University, is certified as an instructor for the IACP Leadership in Police Organizations program and is a Missouri POST generalist instructor.
Williams holds leadership roles in a number of area organizations. He is a gubernatorial appointee to both the Missouri Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (POST) and the Missouri Crime Lab Review Commission.He was honored as Missouri’s Police Chief of the Year in 2015.
Williams holds a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Northeastern Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Northern Michigan University. He is a graduate of PERF’s Senior Management Institute for Police-Class 35 and a graduate of the FBI National Academy-207th Session.