Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette held a promotion ceremony at the Springfield City Council Chambers this week. Sergeant Grant Barksdale was promoted to Lieutenant and Lieutenant Ron Williams was promoted to Commander. Mayor Misty Buscher and other city officials were in attendance.
Lieutenant Grant Barksdale is an 18-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department. Lieutenant Barksdale has served as a Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant, a member of our Pro-Active Crimes Unit and most recently serving as Sergeant over investigations. He is a past recipient of the Silver Suarez and Porter Williams awards. Lieutenant Barksdale is a graduate of Greenview High School and earned bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University.
Commander Ron Williams is a 23-year veteran with the Springfield Police Department. Commander Williams has served as a Field Training Officer, Neighborhood Police Officer a member of the Emergency Response Team and US Marshalls Violent Fugitive Task Force; most recently serving as Lieutenant of our Springfield Police Academy where he oversaw the training of our officers. Commander Williams was a 2022 recipient of the Chief of Police Unit Citation Award. A Springfield native, Commander Williams graduated from Lanphier High School and served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corp for eight years and is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff of Command.
