New Hope Police Sergeant Retires, Reflects on Nearly 30-Year Career

When Marty Williams started pursuing law enforcement as a career in 1993, he says he did it because he wanted to be a role model. Williams started with the city of New Hope’s police cadet program, then became a sworn-in officer for the city three years later.

“At the end of the day, we keep people accountable. We keep the citizens safe,” said Williams, reflecting on his nearly 30-year career with the New Hope Police Department.

Law enforcement became an important part of the Williams family. Williams’ younger brother followed him into law enforcement and currently works with the Fridley Police Department. Williams said one of his career highlights was training the next generation of police officers as an advisor for the New Hope Police Explorers program. One of the youth he trained now works as police officer in Florida, another in Texas, Williams said.

When asked how his job has changed since the 2020 George Floyd incident in which a Minneapolis police officer was convicted of murder, Williams focused on the positives of the profession.

“You get some heat in the media, you have some groups that try to point out just the negative, but at the end of the day, I get more compliments and words of encouragement from the public more now than when I started,” he said.

In his experience, Williams says people are usually relieved when he shows up.

“You have a victim of a crime, when they see you come through there, you see that pressure like literally lift off of them,” said Williams.

The city honored Williams on Wednesday with a retirement party. When asked what he plans to do next, Williams smiled.

“I am going to relax, do things I haven’t done before,” he laughed.

Colleagues give Sgt. Williams a hug during his retirement celebration on Wednesday.

Also See: New Hope Police Officer Retires After 36 Years, Reflects on City Hall Shooting

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