Lake Highlands resident and Wildcat soccer dad Lt. Ches Williams has been promoted to Deputy Chief of the Dallas Police Department. Ches, a 26-year veteran of the DPD, was honored in a ceremony to mark the occasion last week. Attending with him were wife Donna, also a Dallas police officer, daughter Hayley, a college sophomore and member of the Rice Owl soccer team, daughter Glory, scoring machine for the Lady Wildcats, son Russell and daughter Alli. Ches and Donna have been active foster parents for the last 12 years, and Russell and Alli were adopted as full-fledged members of their family after spending time in their home via the foster program.
“All the work that my dad has put into protecting our community over the last 27 years earned him the promotion to Deputy Chief,” said Glory. “He has been the best role model for me and has taught me, among other things, that hard work really does pay off. My dad is my hero!”
Ches’ promotion gives him command of the Southwest Patrol Division, headquartered in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas (Lake Highlands is served by the Northeast Patrol Division and you can receive their updates by “liking” it on Facebook here). Before taking on his new responsibility, Ches supervised the Media Relations Office, where he and his staff dealt with multiple news agencies. Before that, he had 5 years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit, and he has commanded a Narcotics Division, supervised a Family Violence Unit and served as a patrol watch commander.
Ches has received numerous awards, including the John McPhaul Achievement Award from the Texas Council on Family Violence, the State of Texas Public Service Award and the Professionalism Award conferred by the Southwestern Legal Foundation. The DPD has recognized him with their Certificate of Merit, Police Commendation and Certificate of Civic Achievement Awards, and they have presented him with safe driving, perfect attendance and marksmanship bars.
“My dad has been a police officer for a long time,” Hayley told me, “so for him to get this promotion is really exciting because he is being recognized for all of his hard work. I couldn’t be more proud of the new Deputy Chief Williams!”