Candidate Profile: Scott Williams (York Poquoson Sheriff)

Scott Williams is a candidate for the York Poquoson Sheriff. His name will appear on the ballot on November 7, 2023.

Williams is running against R. G. “Ron” Montgomery, who is currently serving out the remaining term of former Sheriff Danny Diggs.

10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race with specific questions. The responses below came directly from the candidate and are unedited. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.

Name: Scott Williams

Age: 54

Race: York-Poquoson Sheriff

Party: Independent

Website: Scott4sheriff.com

Biography: Scott Sheild Williams has had a 28-year law enforcement career. Born and raised in Yorktown, Virginia, Scott is a 1987 graduate of York High School. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1991 with a BA Degree in History. In 1990, he was sworn in as an Auxiliary Deputy Sheriff in York County, Virginia and served over 2000 hours of service in a 2-year period. While an Auxiliary Deputy, he graduated from the Tidewater Regional Academy of Criminal Justice Class 91-C in October 1991.

In July 1992, Scott was hired by the Newport News Police Department as a patrol officer. He worked in many areas of the Newport News Police Department rising to the Rank of Lieutenant/Commander in his 24 years of service. He has served as a patrol office, detective, community policing officer, Crisis/Hostage Negotiator & Commander, Records Division Commander and representative on the cities Juvenile Alternatives to Detention Intuitive. Scott was also responsible for development of the departments Auto Squad, Domestic Violence Unit, and bringing the concept of Coffee with a Cop to Newport News in an effort to make a connection with the community.  Scott is a 2013 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Strategic Management Institute of Police at Boston University.

After retiring from the Newport News Police in 2016, Scott served as the Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety for Hampden-Sydney College. He was responsible for updating their Policy and Procedures manual, opening the lines of communication with the campus community, and starting the Law Enforcement Certification process for the campus police agency. He also served as a certified instructor through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and served for 4 years as a member of the Virginia Criminal Justice Services Board. 

Today, as a small business owner, Scott is the president of Williams Public Safety Solutions, a consulting agency providing knowledge, skills, and abilities that help people ensure a safe, secure and peaceful environment for a business, campus, organization, community, or home.

Why are you running for this office?   

From Sheriff to all employees, sworn or non-sworn, we need to listen, act, and serve all within our community.  We must always strive to look for ways to improve our service to the community we protect.  There is crime in York County and Poquoson.  We have to make fighting crime a priority.  We can not rest on our reputation and the past and expect to keep our community safe. We must look toward the future and fight crime in a proactive manner.  

Scott will listen to all of the citizens of York County and Poquoson and place people ahead of politics.  As an independent, Scott answers to the citizens of the county.  As Sheriff, he represents all of the community and is not beholden to party leadership or influence. Scott will lead this agency from the front and set a course that will ensure York County continues to be a place where people want to live, work, own a business, and raise a family. His door will be open and transparency will come first.

What is the most important issue facing law enforcement?

Officer Recruitment and Retention 

Proper recruitment, retention, and training is a priority. This is a problem in York County and Poquoson as well as many other law enforcement agencies. Since January 1st of 2023, the Sheriff’s agency has lost many deputies to retirement, other law enforcement agencies and professions. The York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office is short deputies on patrol and the pay for deputies is embarrassing.  Why are they leaving?  Is this a priority of the current administration? 

Crazy as it may sound, Scott wants to create an environment where employees will enjoy coming to work, be able to provide for their families and know they are making a difference in the community they serve.  Listening to the members of the agency and working to insure they have the support and know they are valued will be a major part of our agency’s culture.  You will notice that under Scott’s administration “we” will be used more often.  Why?  Because as a team, it is not an individual doing the job or taking the credit.  It is all of us that makes up the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office.

How will you still value constituents and fellow politicians with whom you disagree?

As Sheriff, Scott will lead this agency from the front and set a course that will ensure York County continues to be a place where people want to live, work, own a business, and raise a family. His door will be open and transparency will come first. Everyone is welcomed and their opinions are welcomed and matter.  Scott will listen, act, and serve the community.  

As Scott has been knocking on doors and speaking with citizens, many do not believe that their voices are being heard.  They feel that the Sheriff is not available and their feedback or concerns are not valued.  Listening to all the community and finding solutions together is a way to make progress and build agreement.

Currently, our nation is so polarized and divided politically.  I will be a strong independent voice that will listen to the community and act to ensure we are safe and secure.