Tulsa police major chosen as Springfield police chief

Maj. Paul F. Williams of the Tulsa (Okla.) Police Department will be the next chief of the Springfield Police Department, the city announced Friday.

Williams, who will start July 1, was chosen from four finalists, including Maj. Ron Hartman, who served as interim chief since Lynn Rowe retired as head of the department in January.

Williams has more than 28 years of experience with the Tulsa department, including more than 20 years of supervisory experience and service in patrol, investigative and administrative roles, according to a city of Springfield news release.

His base salary will be $110,968, and he will be eligible to enroll in the statewide Local Area Government Employees Retirement System program.

"Paul is held in very high regard within the Tulsa Police Department and Tulsa community, and I anticipate he will hit the ground running," City Manager Greg Burris said in the release. "Tulsa's loss is Springfield's gain."

Williams has a master's degree in criminal justice administration from Northeastern (Okla.) State University and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Northern Michigan University. He is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police and the FBI National Academy.

The selection process included an eight-member search committee chaired by Assistant City Manager Collin Quigley. It also included Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott, Commerce Bank President Bob Hammerschmidt, Springfield-Greene County Director of Emergency Communications Becky Jungmann, city Human Resources Director Sheila Maerz, Belton Police Chief James Person, Retired Missouri State University Safety and Transportation Director Gary Snavely, and Springfield Public Schools Police Services Director Tom Tucker.[[In-content Ad]]