Campus Hears from Chief Candidates

February 27, 2019 - 05:52 PM

Two men vying to be Mt. San Antonio College’s next police chief faced questions about racial profiling, use of force and community policing during an open forum on Wednesday.

The Police and Campus Safety chief of police position was opened following former Police Chief David Wilson’s retirement in May 2018.

The finalists for the post are:

• Ed Palmer, captain at the University of Southern California Department of Public Safety
• Michael C. Williams, interim police chief at Mt. San Antonio College

Palmer spent 29 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, retiring at the rank of lieutenant. At USC, he previously was responsible for professional standards, training, and recruitment, and functioned as the assistant Public Information Officer. In 2016, Palmer became Patrol Operations Commanding Officer in charge of all uniformed field personnel.

As a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, Palmer was the Officer in Charge of Recruit Training at the Los Angeles Police Academy. Although retired from the LAPD, Palmer is a LAPD Reserve Officer currently assigned to the Training Division, where he teaches Supervisor School, Leadership in Field Training Officer School and Fair and Impartial Policing.

Palmer graduated from Crenshaw High School before attending California State University, Los Angeles and Union Institute. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management.

Williams spent 38 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he had a variety of assignments, including uniformed patrol, narcotics and gang enforcement. He rose through the ranks, ending his career at the rank of commander.

During his tenure with the Los Angeles Police Department, Williams was promoted to detective and assigned to the organized crime, homicide and internal affairs divisions. As a sergeant, Williams supervised personnel within patrol, Metropolitan Division, the Office of the Chief of Police and Air Support Division. Later, Williams was called upon by the Chief of Police and the Office of the Mayor to assume command of three organizations that were experiencing significant leadership challenges.

Williams attended La Puente High School and Mt. San Antonio College, and is a Marine Corps veteran.

 The forum was livestreamed and remains available for viewing online at:  https://youtu.be/PqWvgjV_3Kw. 

Candidates were asked a set of the same prepared questions as well as randomly selected questions submitted by students, staff and faculty.

Feedback on the candidates is encouraged and should be submitted by 3 p.m. March 8. The feedback form can be found here:  https://www.mtsac.edu/president/feedback-form.html.