Delhi police lieutenant resigns due to improper application documents

A Delhi Police Department lieutenant’s resignation has raised questions at town hall.

Lt. Mary Williams resigned last week due to personal reasons.

“I would like to thank everyone that gave me the opportunity to protect and serve in this town of Delhi,” Williams said in her resignation letter. “May God be with each and everyone of you. Thanks again.”

Delhi Mayor Jesse Washington said the council accepted her resignation Monday night during an executive session.

However, Washington said, the reason she was resigning left him with questions of his own.

“From what I understand, she applied for the job using a fraudulent diploma,” Washington said. “I checked her employment records at the town and couldn’t even find a diploma in them.”

Washington said this left him wondering if Williams would have to pay back any funds she received for having P.O.S.T. certification training while working for the town.

“That’s not an issue for the Town of Delhi to worry about,” Delhi Police Chief Roy Williams said.

Chief Williams said he had discussed the matter with District Attorney Penny Douciere, the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement in Baton Rouge and Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Fabian Blanche.

“Mr. Blanche advised me that Mrs. Williams could not work for Delhi Police Department until she gets a GED or HI Set through an accredited community college,” Chief Williams said. “Louisiana P.O.S.T. requires police officers to have a high school diploma, GED or HI Set to be a P.O.S.T. certified officer.  Mrs. Williams has started the process of getting her GED / HI Set from Delta Community College in Tallulah.”

Chief Williams said he hired Lt. Williams six years ago. At the time, she was already working as a correctional officer in Madison Parish and held certification in that position.

“I even had her go to get P.O.S.T. certification again as a police officer,” Chief Williams said. “She was given her certification, so I thought she met all the requirements.”