Shawny Williams, the former police chief of Vallejo, California, has testified that he faced a relentless campaign of racist remarks, threats, and harassment from colleagues and online, which ultimately forced him to resign in 2022. Williams, who was the department's first Black chief, said the hostile environment left him fearing for his safety.
In a deposition for a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Vallejo Police Department, Williams described receiving threats at his office, home, and via email. Even after resigning, threats continued to arrive by mail. 'They were hostile, toxic,' he said. 'I had safety concerns.'
Williams took over the department in 2019 with a mandate to reform it, but faced backlash for his efforts to impose accountability. He recounted a colleague making disturbing remarks, including 'This Black Jesus can’t save us,' and described racial hostilities from a former police captain. He also said the city attorney threatened him, though he did not elaborate.
The threats escalated after an officer who shot an unarmed man in 2020 was reinstated following Williams' departure. Williams said he received messages warning that 'some bad things were coming.' He raised concerns to the city manager, Mike Malone, who allegedly told him, 'They’re not going to stop until I fire you or you quit,' repeating this over half a dozen times.
The lawsuit was brought by Deyana Jenkins, who was tased by Vallejo officers in 2019. Her lawyer, Melissa Nold, expressed concern that Williams was 'run off because he was doing reform and discipline.' The Vallejo Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
