Sandra Williams was the first female police chief in the city of Clarksdale when she took her post last September.
Williams is now looking to pave the way for other women as Dorothy Henley was the first female officer hired during her tenure last week. Henley and Raymond Hill, both Clarksdale residents, were sworn in as patrol officers during a ceremony at mayor Chuck Espy’s office Thursday.
Williams said her goal as police chief is for her and the department to support the community in Clarksdale and she is consistently looking to hire officers.
“It is very important to have females on the force just as it is important to have males on the force,” Williams said. “I’m very excited for officer Henley and I am sure that she, as well as officer Hill, will do an outstanding job serving and protecting the citizens of this community.”
Espy said the oath of office is taken very seriously in Clarksdale as it is a commitment to uphold the Constitution and the state of Mississippi and to protect the citizens of Clarksdale.
“We congratulate you both on a job well done and we hope that you serve the community with passion and dignity, so thank you,” Espy said to Henley and Hill after swearing the officers in.
Henley comes to the CPD from the Tunica County Sheriff’s Department. She has not gone through a training academy, but plans to and has already learned a great deal on the job.
“I feel awesome and I feel like my goal is to help serve the community and, furthermore, learn more on the force as I did in Tunica,” Henley said.
Henley felt her hiring made a positive statement.
“It’s great,” she said. “It lets us know women can do the same as men. It will give us equal rights.”
Hill was an officer at Coahoma Community College and attended Tupelo Training Academy.
“Some of my goals are to come here, further my career in investigations and go forward as a chief,” he said, adding he has his sights set on being a police chief one day.
“Pretty much I’ll come in, do what I’m supposed to do and just try to make a difference in the community.”
