VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been nine months since a scandal at the Holly Hill Police Department led to the resignation of the chief, a captain and a sergeant.
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In July, Byron “BK” Williams from the Daytona Beach Police Department was sworn in as Holly Hill’s new chief.
Only Channel 9′s Demie Johnson sat down with Williams to talk about what he’s done during his first 100 days on the job.
Chief Byron Williams has left no opportunity off the table for his officers.
So far, he’s implemented a K-9 program for the first time in more than a decade and has created a partnership with Shareware, a digital safety bracelet company.
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“When I started, I started by myself. I didn’t have a second in command, and I didn’t have anyone here to give me pass-on information on how things would run. I literally had to start from the ground up,” said Williams.
When Williams became Holly Hill’s police chief in July, he entered an agency that was about to dissolve.
In March, former Chief Jeff Miller and a captain resigned during an investigation into inappropriate departmental incidents. Two sergeants were also placed on leave.
In the meantime, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office took over operations, but Williams stepped up to the plate, determined to help write a new chapter for the department.
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“I already knew that I wanted to be a chief one day because I knew that I still had a lot I wanted to impart to officers and staff and I knew I really wanted to help lead agencies in a better direction and when this opportunity opened up you know it was like a prayer being answered,” said Byron.
He believes the new programs implemented for both police and the community have boosted productivity.
Williams points to differences in daily reports and crime clearance rates.
“Looking at it, you just say wow because you can literally see from February of this year when everything started taking a nosedive to July when everything started rising back up again, and it was just like unbelievable,” said Williams.
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Upgrades in technology through a drone program and facial recognition software for officers are coming soon to the department.
Williams only wants the best for his staff and says the investments are paying off.
“The first few weeks, the first few months, we started seeing a difference within the agency, with the staff. They want to come to work, they want to work, they’re happy. They see the vision I want for this city, this agency and they’ve gotten behind me 100 percent,” said Williams.
In October, a Volusia County Grand Jury declined to indict former Holly Hill Chief Jeff Miller, meaning he will not face charges in investigating inappropriate incidents at the police department.
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