Meet Sheriff Alfonzo Williams
Servant of, Safety for, Solutions with the PEOPLE
Alfonzo Williams, born into a close-knit Burke County family near Boggs Academy, moved to the Pilgrim Way Housing Project at age 8. Alfonzo and his six brothers and sisters were raised by a single mother with strong discipline and Christian values. He embarked on a 29-year law enforcement career in Augusta at the age of 19.
As Sheriff of Burke County for the past six years, Alfonzo Williams’ journey began in 1990 at the Augusta Police Department (APD). During his six-year tenure there, he specialized in Child Abuse, Delinquent Juveniles, and violent crimes. He earned three Police Officer of the Year awards during this time.
In 1996, following city and county government consolidation, Williams joined the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office as a violent crimes investigator. That same year, he also joined the Waynesboro Police Department as Assistant Police Chief. By 1998, he was serving as an Investigative Sergeant at the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, focusing on violent crimes and child abuse cases.
In 2001, Alfonzo Williams became an employee of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, initially working on patrol before transferring to the Criminal Investigations Division as a violent crimes investigator. In 2002, he assumed the role of In-Service Training Coordinator at the East Georgia Regional Police Academy, later becoming the Assistant Director.
In addition to his role at the academy, he became an investigator in the Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office in 2002. There, he worked on a wide range of criminal cases, gaining extensive courtroom experience in Richmond, Burke, and Columbia Counties.
After a brief stint as the East Georgia Regional Police Academy Director, he rejoined the DA’s Office until 2008. In 2008, he accepted an instructor position at the newly created Augusta Technical College Police Academy, where Sheriff Alfonzo Williams worked as the lead instructor for three years, training cadets on various law enforcement topics.
In 2012, he returned to his hometown of Waynesboro as Chief of Police, implementing community policing strategies and significantly reducing crime during his tenure. In 2013, he became the Director/Chief of Police of the Richmond County School System's Department of School Safety and Security.
With a wealth of certifications and leadership training, including management and leadership programs hosted by organizations like the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Alfonzo Williams holds degrees in Criminal Justice, Organizational Management, and Education.
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams is actively involved in the law enforcement community, including memberships in the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Association of Chiefs of Police. Additionally, he has been an adjunct instructor in the Criminal Justice program at Augusta Technical College since 2006.
He is married to Shirleta Williams and has two daughters, Chandler Williams and Kiara Williams.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- RICHMOND COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, Augusta, Georgia (2013-2016)
Police Chief- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school safety and security department (32,000 students and 4,500 employees)
- Supervised divisions, which included patrol, records, investigations, communications, training, student tribunal hearings and internal affairs
- Responsible for the inter-agency coordination of all divisions
- Submitted monthly reports to the deputy superintendent
- Investigated parent and citizen complaints
- Conducted background checks for employment and evaluated criminal history records
- Administered discipline and corrective behaviors
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided recommendations to the deputy superintendent, deputy superintendent and Human Resources Board
- Coordinated intelligence with surrounding law enforcement and social service agencies
- Attended community events and civic organizational meetings
- Lectured on school emergency preparedness, school shootings, gangs, cyberbullying and bullying, social media policies and related topics affecting students and the learning process
- Evaluated goals and the strategic planning process within the K12 environment
- CITY OF WAYNESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT, Waynesboro, Georgia, (2011-2013)
Police Chief- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the police department
- Supervised divisions, which included patrol, investigation, communications, K9, training, housing authority, community relations and special operations units
- Responsible for the inter-agency coordination of all these divisions
- Submitted bi- weekly and monthly reports to city council
- Investigated citizen complaints
- Administered discipline and corrective behaviors
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided recommendations to the city administrator and city attorney
- Coordinated intelligence with surrounding police and social service agencies
- Attended community events and civic organizational meetings
- AUGUSTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, Augusta, Georgia, (2008-2011)
Instructor- Provided theory and practical instruction to a level sufficient for students to develop necessary skill to complete Basic Law Enforcement Certification Technical Certificate of Credit
- Planned instructional activities
- Demonstrated effective instructional skills
- Prepared the classroom for learning experiences
- Participated in an active advisory committee
- Selected, completed and reported staff development activities
- Advised students
- Effectively managed student assessment
- Maintained documentation of state standards
- DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, AUGUSTA JUDICAL CIRCUIT, Augusta, Georgia, (2006 – 2008)
Investigator- Assisted attorneys with court in Richmond, Burke and Columbia Counties Superior Court
- Located witnesses, served subpoenas, interviewed witnesses
- Reviewed child sexual abuse cases and drafted indictments for Richmond County
- Provided technical assistance in courtroom presentations
- Served as evidence custodian for pending Superior Court cases
- Assisted attorneys with trial preparation
- Processed asset forfeitures for Richmond, Burke and Columbia Counties
- Processed bond forfeitures for Richmond, Burke and Columbia Counties
- GEORGIA PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER, Forsyth, Georgia, (2005 – 2006)
Director of East Georgia Police Academy- Provided supervision to staff in development, reviews and revisions to statewide public safety training programs
- Monitored effectiveness of statewide training programs and conformity of programs to standards and requirements
- Administered and monitored state training programs budget
- Coordinated training activities with departmental mission and operational requirements
- Conducted curriculum research in areas which are technically specialized, controversial or subject to complex and conflicting legal guidelines
- Managed statewide safety program for training
- Managed public safety training facilities for statewide programs
- Provided training for public safety personnel in area of special expertise
- Supervised administrative and instructional staff
- DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, AUGUSTA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, Augusta, Georgia, (2002 – 2005)
Investigator- Assisted attorneys with court in Richmond, Burke and Columbia Counties Superior Court
- Located witnesses, serve subpoenas, interview witnesses
- Reviewed child sexual abuse cases and drafted indictments for Richmond County
- Provided technical assistance in courtroom presentations
- Served as evidence custodian for pending Superior Court cases
- Assisted attorneys with trial preparation
- EAST GEORGIA REGIONAL POLICE ACADEMY, Blythe, Georgia, (2001 – 2002)
Assistant Director/Basic Mandate Student Coordinator- Assisted in day to day operations of academy (i.e. budgeting/finance/personnel)
- Coordinated in-services training and advanced/specialized courses
- Submitted monthly reports to Division Director
- Prepared and updated lesson plans for instruction
- Instructed and coordinated 900 hours yearly training
- COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, Appling, Georgia, (2000 – 2001)
Investigator- Investigated all cases, working very closely with agencies within the community
- Submitted criminal case files to the district attorney’s office and follow the case through the judicial process, including testifying in court
- Specialized in violent crimes and crimes against children
- Coordinated with Family and Children Services on abuse/neglect cases
- BURKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, Waynesboro, Georgia, (1997 – 2000)
Special Investigator- Assigned to work specifically for the Sheriff
- Investigated internal affairs complaints using written and taped interviews, witness statements, and both physical and circumstantial evidence
- Investigated all cases involving child physical and sexual abuse
- CITY OF WAYNESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT, Waynesboro, Georgia, (1996 – 1997)
Assistant Police Chief- Responsible for the day-to-day operations of the police department
- Supervised divisions, which included patrol, investigation, communications and special operations units
- Responsible for the inter-agency coordination of all these divisions
- Submitted weekly and monthly reports
- Handled client complaints and administered discipline
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided recommendations to the Chief of Police
- Coordinated intelligence with surrounding police and social service agencies
- CITY OF AUGUSTA/RICHMOND COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Augusta, Georgia, (1990 – 1996)
Detective /Investigator- Promoted from patrolman to detective after 1 1/2 years on the force
- Investigated violent crimes and crimes against property with a concentration in delinquent juveniles and crimes against children
- Submitted criminal case files to the District Attorney for prosecution
- Served as field-training officer to new officers and detectives
EDUCATION
- FAULKNER UNIVERSITY, Montgomery, Alabama, 2018-2019
Master of Criminal Justice Administration
- TROY UNIVERSITY, Dothan, Alabama, 2010-2013
Master of Criminal Justice 12 Graduate Hours
- AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, (May 2006)
Master of Education Instructional Technology
- VOORHEES COLLEGE, Denmark, South Carolina, (May 2005)
Bachelor of Science Degree, Organizational Management
- AUGUSTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, Augusta, Georgia, (October 2001)
Associate's Degree, Criminal Justice
- CSRA LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER, Augusta, Georgia, (1991)
Diploma Received
- BURKE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL, Waynesboro, Georgia, (1990)
Diploma Received
CERTIFICATIONS
- Defensive Driver Instructor, 2005
- Senior Training Instructor, 2000
- Interview/Interrogations Instructor, 1995
- Defensive Tactics Instructor, 1994
- Firearms Instructor, 1993
- General Instructor, 1993
- Basic Law Enforcement, 1991
