And while we were struck by the COMPOL's curfew decree, what really caught our attention from yesterday's late evening press conference was his militant and unyielding stand on gangs.
This is one senior cop - who, when he was Southside commander from 2015 to 2017 - worked steadily to mediate gang disputes, and try to re-integrate gang members into mainstream society.
But, now he's gone to the other extreme. For comparison, we contrast yesterday's remarks with those he made exactly four years ago at a gang neighborhood family day he organized in July of 2015.
July 18, 2019
Chester Williams
"And instead of blaming the police, we need to begin to look at those persons who raised these monsters and unleashed them on the streets."
July 27, 2015
"Let them know that the police are here and the lives of each and every one of them who lives in that area do matter."
July 18, 2019
"Enough is enough. We cannot continue to have gang members live freely and comfortable among us."
July 18, 2019
"What we need to do is to ensure that we do things to let these young people know 'you know what, their life do matter, your life is worth something and you are a part of the community and we should the good part of you."
July 18, 2019
"I would want to see we make it or we put it in our constitution that it is wrong and illegal to be a gang and once you are a gang you must be locked up for life - put it in the constitution. Gang members must feel that they are not welcomed among us."
Williams did also say yesterday that he still believes, quote, "if we have any gang members who show signs of reformation, he must be given the opportunity to reform," end quote.
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