Lt. Brian Williams retiring after 30 years serving the South Lake Tahoe community

As he reflects back on 30 years in uniform for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, Lt. Brian Williams knows the dates that will be forever etched into his memory. 12/29/1986, 6/10/1991, 1/29/1997, 10/25/2005 and 8/26/2009.

December 29, 1986: Brian starts with SLTPD and heads off to the Police Academy in Santa Rosa.

Even though his parents were both in law enforcement, Brian and his older brother Brad never thought of following in their footsteps. Their mother was a police dispatcher and dad was both with the California Highway Patrol and Yuba City Police Department. He was spending time playing music, both in bands and on television and working in a lumber mill. His guitar work was even heard in Spanish soap operas.

One day Brad says he's going to test for the SLTPD and asked if Brian wanted to go along. He did, and you could say the rest is history. Both scored well on the tests and were hired. Brian started one month later, Brad followed a short time later.

"We both loved the job," Brian said as we talked about his past, his career and what is in store for his future. "I almost felt guilty about taking a paycheck since I was having so much fun!"

He recalls his years as part of a two-man gang unit with Jeff Regan. "There were severe gang problems in the late 80's and early 90's in South Lake Tahoe," said Williams. "We made significant impact."

After those early years, and he made it to trainer, Williams then tested for detective where he spent ten years alongside brother Brad.

June 10, 1991: Brian was on duty when 11-year-old Jaycee LeeDugard was kidnapped from the South Shore. That case was under the jurisdiction of El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, but SLTPD was called into assist and help search for Jaycee as part of the response team. "That was a scary call," said Brian. He became a father that year (with the second one coming in 1995).

Williams carried the flyer of her disappearance daily until the day she was found, August 26, 2009. He also happened to be on duty that day as well.

During his time in detectives Brian worked several child abuse investigations. "Those were the hardest," he said. Williams recently ran into one of the children he helped in the lobby of the police department. Williams had arrested her abuser who was then convicted. She gave Williams a big hug, telling him she now has a family, is a school teacher and living a positive and productive life.

"Things like that are the jewels in my crown," said Williams.

Williams was promoted in 2000 and was the SLTPD patrol sergeant for ten years. His next promotion was to lieutenant in July of 2011, a position he'll hold until he hangs up his shield.

He reflects over many stories with tragic endings, but one that turned out with happier outcome is another of the dates he remembers, October 25, 2005. A local young woman he knew, Susan Rizk, was the mother of a young daughter and had become estranged from the girl's father. This man went over to Susan's home with a sword and stabbed her multiple times.

"I was patrol supervisor at the time and headed over to the home when the call came in," said Williams. "I've seen a number of people die in my career and I thought Susan would die that day. I sent a detective in the ambulance with her as I didn't think she'd make it." She did survive, and after two months in the hospital was released. Now, 11 1/2 years later, she is married and the mother of a teenager.

In both Susan and Jaycee's cases, there was a happy outcome.

"The community came together for both of them," said Brian. "Its nice to see that."

Not everything has a happy outcome and Williams has seen his share of ugly cases.

In September, 2001, Rebecca Aramburo was 9-years-old when her non-custodial mother kidnapped her in Washington and brought her to Campground-by-the-Lake in South Lake Tahoe. The mother, Lisa Ann Platz, and the mother's boyfriend Ames Csucsai, were tracked down to the campground where a standoff with police took place. The two adults were arrested with self-inflicted stab wounds but the young girl was found deceased with her throat slashed inside a tent.

"In the 90s there were property crimes, drugs and gangs," said Williams.

One of those gang members was arrested by Brian several times. "He grew up and changed," said Williams. "He said he was always grateful for the Williams brothers treatment. Now he has a job, family and goes out of his way to introduce me to his family."

January 29, 1997: The day he almost died. Williams was contacted by the Honolulu Police Department about a suspect in a carjacking case that might be in South Lake Tahoe. SWAT went to the suspect's home but he escaped.

FBI agent Chris Campion was driving Williams, following the suspect in a truck being driven by his mother. She had convinced her son to surrender at the police station. Campion and Williams were following the mother and son on Johnson Boulevard, making sure they made it to the station, when the truck in front of them suddenly stopped. A heavily armed man wearing a bullet proof vest got out, told his mother that he was going to die, and started shooting at Campion and Williams. They responded with their guns, shooting and killing the suspect. After the shooting they found terrorist armament inside the truck: rifles, shotguns and hand grenades.

"It was hard," Williams said of the shooting. "Never in this line of work did I have to do that."

As he wraps up his career, Williams likes the direction the City is headed.

"South Lake Tahoe is a good place," he said. "The city has stood behind the police department during these inflammatory times."

He appreciated the new focus on recreation instead of gambling, being bike safe, cleaning up Highway 50, the new Bijou Bike Park. "These are all victories for the community," Williams said. "There is now so much to offer."

One thing he is concerned with as he leaves is marijuana and the upcoming decision the City Council will have to make about sales.

"This has the biggest potential to impact the community, more than anything else in my career," said Williams of pot sales. "I'm concerned about the people in the community and the dark elements that come with marijuana."

He said he didn't envy the City Council in their upcoming discussions about marijuana sales. "They are in a thankless position as both sides will be mad if a vote goes against them. Very scary."

"The badge and the uniform goes away, but caring for the community never will," said Williams.

From SLTPD Chief Brian Uhler: Brian Williams, with his 30 years of service, has served the agency honorably and will be missed. In the course of his long and successful career serving the citizens of South Lake Tahoe, he has left his mark on the department in many ways.

First, with a keen eye for quality police work, he has helped our officers and unsworn staff stay up-to-date on the laws and best practices in our profession. I am confident that the tone he has set and the culture of quality work will continue through the people he has helped form over the years. I would bet that officers and leaders in the department will ask themselves “what would Lt. Williams do?” when confronted with thorny problems. There may be a few jokes about his tenacity regarding quality written work too.

Second, Lt. Williams has been a key advisor and next-in-command at the police department. As such, he offers sound advice and helps me make the best decisions possible for the department and the citizens we serve. On many occasions, he has been “ahead of the curve” by staying up to date on issues in the news and within our profession. Clearly, in this respect he will be missed.

Third, Lt. Williams maintains connections to retirees and harbors a great deal of institutional knowledge. When I need to know why something is done a certain way, Brian is my “go to guy” because he has a keen memory and he is a great record-keeper too. He has already offered to be available when such questions need answers which demonstrates just how much he cares about the department and the City we serve.

June 25, 2005: The day Brian married Shelly. "She was the best thing that ever happened to me," he said. She retired from the Juvenile Treatment Center three years ago and is ready for him to join her.

They'll be spending a lot of time in their RV, traveling to new and familiar places. So as Williams enters his last week on the job, he shared his Top Five list one what they'll do once he hangs up his shield:

1) Go to the Ark Experience in Kentucky,
2) Camp along the Oregon and Washington coast with his wife and parents,
3) See the total eclipse of the sun on August 21 in McCall, Idaho,
4) Follow the Ohio River Valley and the trail of Daniel Boone,
5) Anywhere there is a Bluegrass festival.

Brian will also be able to work more on his music. He enjoys playing electric and acoustic guitars, drums, piano with his passion in country music and bluegrass.

Now, there is one more date for him to remember: March 24, 2017. Retirement.