The Observer Newspapers | Investigative Work, Tracking Criminals is Rewarding for Detective

Sept. 19 , 2008

Investigative Work, Tracking Criminals is Rewarding for Detective

The Town of Herndon police place a strong emphasis on community policing and their partnership with the community. In this series, The Observer will profile officers who work and live near or grew up in the Herndon community.

By Rebecca Plevin

Observer Staff Writer

When Herndon detective Justin Williams returns home from work, he said he likes to care for his saltwater and freshwater fish. He said it is relaxing to look at the tanks, which are filled with fish, corals, crabs and starfish, because they are like a "mini bio-world where different organisms are all living in one small tank."

When Williams retires from the Herndon Police Department, he said he would like to open a saltwater fish store. But for now, Williams, a nine-year veteran of the police force, said he enjoys being one of the department's three detectives. "I like tracking people down," he said, adding that it is also rewarding to "hold them responsible for what they did."

Williams, who has been a detective for almost two years, said he and the other investigators "handle whatever comes in," including fraud, embezzlement, homicides and child abuse cases. He said he prefers being a detective, rather than an officer on the street, because detective work requires "a lot more investigative skills," such as getting confessions from people, tracking evidence, and working with subpoenas and search warrants. Detective work, he said, is "more involved than on the streets."

Being a detective—or a police officer—was not in Williams' original career plans. Williams grew up in New Jersey and attended Radford University with the intention of becoming an attorney. During his freshman year, he said he realized that he did not enjoy his legal studies classes, but he was very interested in his criminal justice class. He said he learned about the Herndon police at a career fair during his junior year of college and joined the town's department after graduation.

The police department has provided Williams with an exciting career—and allowed him to meet his wife, police corporal Denise Randles. Williams said he is very appreciative of his wife's support for his two passions, saltwater fish and the Chicago Bears. He said they snorkeled around a barrier reef in Belize on their honeymoon, and she agreed to name one of their children after a legendary Bears player—Walter Payton.