As the head of two major urban police departments, Willie Williams first came to prominence in the 1980s. Associated with reform efforts in departments plagued by scandal, he served from 1988-1992 as police commissioner in Philadelphia and from 1992-1997 as chief of police in Los Angeles. In both cities, he won plaudits for implementing community-based policing. However, his tenure in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)ended acrimoniously amid allegations of mismanagement and ethics violations.

In Philadelphia, Williams amassed an impressive record. As the city's first black police commissioner, he took charge in the wake of corruption scandals and a debacle in which police fighting a radical group bombed and destroyed 61 homes. Liked and respected, he reduced crime through such measures as departmental restructuring and community policing that emphasized foot patrols, decentralized authority, and strong community ties. Promoting women and minority officers was a top priority.

In 1992, Los...