(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D- South Los Angeles) announces the formation of his Law Enforcement Advisory Council naming Mike Jimenez, retired President of California Correctional Peace Officers Association, and Keith L. Williams, Ph.D., Chief of Kinloch Police Department, as the first two members.
“As Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, I seek to hear from all stakeholders, including law enforcement, regarding bills before the committee. That said, the voice of law enforcement cannot be dominated by those who are intent on maintaining the overly punitive, ‘lock-em-up’ policing of our past,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr. “Mike Jimenez, Keith L. Williams, Ph.D., and other Council Members to be named offer their perspectives as law enforcement officers, but in a manner consistent with our commitment to fairness, equity and justice.”
Mike Jimenez served as a correctional officer for 28 years. He also served for 20 years as an Executive Officer with the CCPOA – 8 years as Executive Vice President and 12 years as State President. Mike is committed to enhancing the correctional peace officer profession, and, through his work on this council, will focus on use of force policies, reporting requirements, and criminal justice reform generally.
Keith L. Williams, Ph.D., currently serves as Assistant Director of Public Safety and Assistant Police Chief at Western Washington University. Previously, he was Chief of Police at the Kinloch Police Department in Kinloch, Missouri and Director of the Institute of Justice and Accountability, overseeing law enforcement training to reduce bias in policing and eliminate racial profiling. Keith’s expertise in law enforcement community relations and department management is critical in helping improve the practice of policing.
“I would like to thank Mike and Keith for answering the call to provide their invaluable perspectives to better inform our legislative process,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr. “With their help and the help of others on the council still to be announced, we will thoroughly vet and successfully implement long overdue reforms of our criminal justice system.”
Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. represents South Los Angeles, Florence-Firestone, Walnut Park, and a portion of Huntington Park. For more information about Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer, Sr., please visit https://a57.asmdc.org