There are no words to describe the surprise and anger we felt last week when we learned that on Tuesday, August 4, Voltaire Williams CDC# E17796, just a year after being denied parole again, has been considered for parole by the CDCR, after his conviction in the murder of LAPD Detective Thomas Williams, according to Luis Patino, a state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokesman.

Acting on their own and without any indication, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Board of Parole (BP) granted the hearing for the violent murderer.

The BP has been speeding up parole hearings for inmates with life sentences such as Voltaire Williams, citing pressure from officials to consider overcrowded prison conditions, according to LA Observed.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL), which represents the almost 10,000 rank-and-file officers of the LAPD, vehemently opposes the release of Voltaire Williams, who was involved in the brutal ambush assassination of LAPD Detective Thomas Williams in front of his young son. The murder occurred on Halloween in 1985 in a spray of gunfire just as Det. Williams was picking up his son from a day care center.

Det. Williams had arrested Daniel Jenkins, an associate of Voltaire Williams, and had testified in his robbery trial. In a desperate attempt to sabotage the trial and to get revenge against the detective for his part in the prosecution, Voltaire Williams, Daniel Jenkins and the triggerman conspired to kill Det. Thomas Williams. Voltaire Williams has never expressed remorse for his role in the murder.

Now, Det. Williams’ two adult children and widow, along with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, are emphatically protesting the release of Voltaire Williams. We implore Governor Jerry Brown to reverse any decision by the Parole Board to free Williams and keep this brutal killer behind bars for the public good.

Please help us block the release of this murderer. Send the message that the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer is the ultimate violation of public safety and should result in the forfeiture of the assailant’s freedom for life. Public safety must come first.

On behalf of the almost 10,000 LAPD officers who protect and serve Los Angeles, we’re asking for your help, in memory of Detective Williams and in support of his wife and two children. Please take a few minutes to write a letter or email the governor and urge him to deny parole to Voltaire Williams.

You can email the governor at govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php or mail a letter to his attention at:

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Attention: LEGAL
State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, California 95814
Voltaire Williams CDC No. E17796*
(*If you choose to email the governor, please include this identifying information.)

We only have 120 days to convince the governor to reverse this travesty of justice, so please send your email or letter soon. Thank you for helping us keep public safety first.

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