Tommy Williams is officially at the helm of the Slidell Police Department, taking the oath of office on July 1 after a decisive May election and a months-long handoff back into his hometown agency. He steps in just as the city advances a new police headquarters project and is promising an open-door leadership style. Williams says he plans to beef up training, tighten traffic enforcement and steer the capital project while trying to bring a steadier tone inside the department.
From crewboat captain to chief
As profiled by NOLA.com, Williams is a Pearl River High School graduate who served in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear weapons technician before turning full-time to law enforcement. The outlet notes that along the way he worked as a crewboat captain, ran a charter fishing business and served with the Roswell, Georgia, police department as a sergeant in the traffic unit. He also attended the University of New Orleans and Central Texas College, then came back to Slidell in 2007 to return to local policing.
New headquarters and early priorities
The Slidell City Council has signed off on a new police headquarters on a city-owned tract along Robert Boulevard, a project pegged at about $17.6 million, according to The Slidell Times. City planning documents list the address as 911 Robert Blvd and describe a complex that would replace the aging Sgt. Alfred Street facility and include a small jail area. Officials and local reporting say the move is aimed at avoiding expensive elevation and retrofitting at the current site while bringing the department’s operations up to modern standards.
Election and swearing-in
Williams captured about 65% of the vote in the May 16 municipal primary and then took the oath of office during a public inauguration at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium on July 1, according to WVUE (Fox 8). His win over fellow longtime officer Brian Nicaud was not close, giving Williams a clear mandate to set the department’s agenda.
Political ripple
The shakeup at the top has already spilled into the wider political scene. Daniel Seuzeneau, who stepped in as interim chief after Randy Fandal was elected mayor, has announced that he is running for St. Tammany Parish sheriff, according to The Slidell Times. The Slidell Police Department notes that before taking on the interim role, Seuzeneau served as the department’s chief administrative officer and spokesman.
What Williams says he'll do
“My door is open,” Williams told reporters during the campaign, and he has emphasized that same message as chief. He has highlighted a focus on training, traffic enforcement and anti-trafficking efforts, while also making it clear he does not intend to stay in the job forever. “Two terms is enough,” he said in interviews, according to NOLA.com. Williams presents his leadership style as steady, managerial and centered on community contact as the department heads into a period of transition.
Residents and city leaders say they will be watching to see how Williams juggles the daily grind of policing with the demands of a multimillion-dollar building project. His local roots and maritime background make him a familiar face as he takes command. Local outlets have also noted that Williams comes into office with support from community leaders and a mandate to modernize the department while keeping it closely tied to the people it serves, according to WVUE (Fox 8).
