New Changes In Oakland Police Department Service Area 5 Lt. Sharon Williams replaces lt. Charles Gibson

There's a new top cop on board in Police Service Area 5 (PSA 5) which includes a large portion of Council District 6. Lt. Sharon Williams was recently appointed the lead commander for PSA 5. Williams succeeds Lt. Charles Gibson who recently retired from OPD after 30 years of service.

A 16-year veteran of OPD, Lt. Williams will bring a wealth of on the ground knowledge and experience to the area. "I'm confident that Lt. Williams will be a positive force in our area, especially since she is already familiar with the territory," says District 6 Councilperson Desley Brooks. From 2000-2003, Williams was a Patrol Sergeant in PSA 5, spanning East Oakland from High Street to 82nd Avenue.

In her new position, Lt. Williams says, "I look forward to working in tandem with Councilperson Brooks' office to implement innovative prevention and intervention programs to serve the residents in District 6, especially the youth." Most recently, Lt. Williams held a two-year stint with the PSA Area 4 crime reduction team, where her duties included enforcement of violent offenders and narcotics activity. (PSA 4 covers 23rd Avenue to High Street).

A native of St. Louis, Lt. Williams moved to Oakland in the early 1970s and is a graduate of St. Mary's College in Moraga.

Lt. Gibson who is the new Police Chief at Contra Costa College will be missed by many. To thank Gibson for his service and congratulate him on his new position, Councilmember Brooks, Lt. James Meeks, Neighborhood Service Coordinators Araina Richards and Karen Harris, along with Margaret Dixon and a host of family and friends held a farewell celebration on January 25th. "Gibson has been an absolute joy to work with," said Councilmember Brooks. "He has a real concern for the people in this City which he demonstrated every day he came to work."

To contact District 6 City Councilperson Desley Brooks, call 510.238.7006 or email her at dbrooks@oaklandnet.com.

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