Pinellas County Schools Police Chief Luke Williams is one of six finalists for the Director of the Year.
ST. PETERSBURG – Pinellas County Schools Police Chief Luke Williams is one of six finalists for the Director of the Year award by Campus Safety magazine. The publication is a source for campus police chiefs and security directors of schools, universities, and hospitals nationwide.
Chief Williams stands out for his innovative approach to school safety and putting students and their education first. A veteran police officer for more than 30 years, he defined and improved law enforcement’s role in schools, what types of incidents require police involvement and what incidents should be handled by school administrators.
He helped lead a collection of 3,000 foldable duffle bags to give to students who are in foster care, providing them with a dignified way to carry their personal belongings when moving from home to home as opposed to using garbage bags.
A veteran police officer for more than 30 years, Chief Luke Williams defined and improved
law enforcement’s role in Pinellas County Schools.
Chief Williams took the helm as the chief of Pinellas County Schools Police on March 1, 2018. Before arriving at the district, he was an assistant chief at the St. Petersburg Police Department and assigned to the Uniform Services Bureau, where he commanded more than 400 employees. He served with the St. Petersburg Police Department 33 years, 18 of those as an assistant chief.
Williams holds a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police (Boston), and the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Chief Executive Seminar.
He’s also a graduate of the Leadership St. Pete Leadership Program, the Eckerd College Leadership Development Program, the John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Quantico, Va.
A lifelong St. Pete resident, Williams maintains a close connection with the community. He currently serves on the boards of the Community Health Centers of Pinellas County, YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, and Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
In 2013, he was appointed the chairman of the Department of Juvenile Justice Circuit VI Advisory Board. His volunteer activities also include the 5000 Role Models of Excellence, the Men In the Making mentoring and role modeling program, and many others.
The Director of the Year winner will be announced during the Campus Safety Conference East, held June 20-22 in Bethesda, Md.
