Top-flight Sergeant Retires

by Capt. Paul Chignell

At the end of June, Sgt. Michael Williams retired from the San Francisco Police Department after 28 years of service.

Williams has been a mainstay here at the station for more than 15 years and will be missed by the officers and the community he served.

Mike has solved so many crimes and assisted so many people that it is quite difficult to choose one program that stands out from the rest. But, I must say his vision as a creator of the Taraval Neighborhood Team (TNT) in 1996 was his most successful effort. This is a team of hand-picked officers who work primarily in the Oceanview area of the Taraval police district.

Members of the team work closely with the community to foster cooperation and respect. They are aggressive officers who have made thousands of felony arrests as a result of gang violence and narcotics trafficking.

Williams was in charge of that unit for seven years and had a reputation for integrity and professionalism. He was a strong mentor for young officers.

The TNT unit also was used as a strike force when there were major problems in other areas of the district, whether in the Outer Sunset, Parkside, Inner Sunset or any neighborhood that we serve. These officers would attack a burglary or robbery series and have great skill in executing search warrants or surveillance. Many crimes were prevented by their high-profile patrol and many felons went to prison due to their efforts.

We will miss TNT leader Mike Williams and wish him a long and healthy retirement.

Capt. Paul Chignell is the commanding officer at the Taraval Station.