She, too, was under scrutiny for months over the political prosecutions. There was also the unspoken example of Allister Adel, the former Maricopa County Attorney who died tragically this month shortly after resigning from the office. N’sangou was referring to former City Manager Ed Zuercher, who left in October 2021. Her planned departure fits a “pattern of top officials jumping ship before the whole thing unravels,” according to Lola N’sangou, the executive director of Mass Liberation Arizona, a local advocacy group. Regardless of Williams’ rationale, for many of her critics, her planned retirement has been interpreted as a quiet resignation. In response to questions for this story, Phoenix police spokesperson Donna Rossi wrote to Phoenix New Times: “I would direct you to statements already made earlier this week by both Chief Williams and City Manager Jeff Barton: The chief made the decision on her own to move in a new direction to prioritize family and explore future opportunities.” Just two weeks before Williams announced her plans, ABC15 published audio of conversations between top officials in the department, which indicated that Williams and second-in-command Mike Kurtenbach scapegoated lower-level officers under pressure.

And alongside the federal probe, there’s continued fallout from the department’s efforts to bring felony gang charges against political protesters in October 2020, most of which were dismissed four months later. Department of Justice investigation into its law enforcement practices. Not mentioned in her letter was the political pressure that has been steadily mounting on Williams and her department.

“I feel called right now to go into a new direction, allowing me the rare opportunity to prioritize family and explore future endeavors.” “There is never a perfect time to transition, but the time feels right for me now to step aside,” she wrote. She has spent 30 years in law enforcement and is now in her mid-50s. Williams, who has served as police chief for more than five years and will remain in the role until the city replaces her, wrote that nothing, in particular, had triggered her decision. The city was starting a search for a new chief. On Tuesday morning, Phoenix police chief Jeri Williams and the city of Phoenix issued a coordinated announcement: She was retiring.

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