The intersection of Sixth Street and Central Avenue has been dedicated as Officer Charles P. Williams Square.

Chief Beck, LAPD officers and city councilmembers attended the designation of Sixth Street and Central Avenue as Officer Charles P. Williams Square on Wednesday. (Photo: Gary Leonard, LA Downtown News)

The LAPD and Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry dedicated the intersection on Jan. 13 for the officer who was recently identified by police department personnel as the first African American officer killed in the line of duty.

The square designation was the result of a motion introduced by Perry last year at the request of the LAPD's Central Division, where Williams worked until his death in 1923.

Williams was killed in the line of duty near Central Avenue and Sixth Street, while responding to a call at a local brothel.

At the time, Williams was assigned to the Central Vice unit. After his death, he was misidentified in LAPD records as a white officer with the same first and last names.

Seventy-five years later, 14-year LAPD veteran Sgt. John Thomas discovered the error while reading through old newspapers. The dedication was led by Perry, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Deputy Chief Earl Paysinger.