Yulanda D.A. Williams
is a native San Franciscan and a first-generation law enforcement officer. She received her inspiration, passion and desire to help her community from both of her parents, the late Rev. Harry W. Williams and Mrs. Rose Mary Williams. Yulanda and members of her immediate family are the only documented People’s Temple members to be voluntarily released by Jim Jones from Jonestown. Yes, she is truly a “Survivor” in every sense of the word. Her deep-rooted Christian faith and values, steadfast devotion to family, and unshakable commitment to community is demonstrated by her academic pursuits, work ethics, social pursuits, active, attentive participation as a community activist, and thoughtfulgenerous contributions to others. Her survival skills, instinct, and resiliency lead her to her distinguishedcareer in law enforcement with the San Francisco Police Department.
During her early years as a patrol officer in the San Francisco Police Department, Yulanda was selected as the Liaison Police Officer for the San Francisco Youth Courts, Inc. a renowned model diversion program for youth. She has over 32 years of distinguished experience and service in law enforcement with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). Yulanda Williams was the first Black female employed by SFPD to obtain the credentials of Master Instructor. These prestigious teaching credentials from the California Commission on Peace Officers Standard & Training (POST) certify her to serve as an instructor at Law Enforcement Academies throughout the state of California. She has also taught officers on a national level. She is also the first Black female to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Police Officers Association. At the age of 62 while working full time, she obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. She graduates with bestowal honors of magna cum laude.
In her last assignment with SFPD at the Community Engagement Division (CED), Yulanda Williamsserved as the first Black Captain over the SFPD School Resource Officers Program and the liaison to the San Francisco Unified School District. She also assisted her department voluntarily with the Chief’s African American Advisory Forum. The community members involved in this forum focus on techniques to reduce violence, address racial/gender bias, reformation of current police policies, procedures and training, and establish systematic ways to cultivate trusting relationships between communities and law enforcement based on the best policing practices.
Yulanda’s experience in lobbying, political campaigns, community outreach and development, procurement, and fundraising abilities has served as an attribute to her community and community-basedorganizations. She served three terms as the President of the Officers For Justice Peace Officers Association (OFJ), two terns as the Vice President and continues to serve as our President Emerita. Currently she is the Vice President of the San Francisco Branch of the NAACP. Captain Williams is also a lifetime member of BWOPA (Black Women Organized For Political Action) and NCNW (National Council of Negro Women). Her level of expertise and wisdom has positioned her as a highly sought-after strategist and public motivational speaker. Her skills and passions have helped further develop organizations, businesses, and community relations between law enforcement and the diverse communities they serve.
As an advocate and champion for social change, Yulanda continues to advocate, nurture and develop innovative programming and reform minded advocacy campaigns that meet the needs of marginalizedunderserved communities; such as the “Not On My Watch Program,” the “Safe Place Program,” and the historically San Francisco Youth lead 2019 “Snitch on Racism March.” Beyond her labor service with OFJ, Captain Williams frequently voluntarily works with civically minded youth throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Often times she is referred as one of the Ambassadors for Justice dedicating her time to many issues surrounding micro-aggressions.
Yulanda Williams also created the “Not On My Watch” campaign supporting transparency and inclusion. The concept assured protection of whistleblowers and was to foster trusting relationships between the community and law enforcement. Not On My Watch supported police reform as well as community policing concepts. She is also instrumental in affecting change in policies and policing strategies that benefit residents of San Francisco. She assisted in the development and creation of the “Know Your Rights” Pamphlet. This informational pamphlet targets African American youth and other minorities toeducate them concerning their rights when approached by law enforcement officers. This trainingpamphlet when presented to youth includes scenarios focused on methods to establish successful engagements with law enforcement. A variation of this presentation is also available to parents and interested adults.
When it comes to motivational speaking, community relations and development, Yulanda Williamsexemplifies her mastery. Her ability to resonate and attract people regardless of their race, religion, gender, party affiliation or socioeconomic status serves her well. There aren’t many places in the State ofCalifornia Yulanda can visit where she is not known. Her true connector that holds relationships with grassroots leaders is her track record of developing coalitions and garnering support for efforts that consist of individuals and organizations that ordinarily would not work together if it were not for her humility and ability to find their common thread.
Yulanda Williams is a graduate with honors from Lowell Academic High School in San Francisco, California. She attended the University of California Berkeley campus and at the age of 62 earned herB.A. degree in Criminal Justice from California Coast University graduating with honors. She received her inspiration, passion and desire to serve her community from her father, the late Rev. Harry W. Williams, Sr. and her loving Christian mother, the late Mrs. Rose Mary Williams. Yulanda Williams is a People’s Temple survivor. Her family is the only ones to be allowed to negotiate their term of departure with James W. Jones, Sr. prior to the Jonestown, Guyana massacre of over 900 United States citizens.
Yes, she is truly a “Survivor” in every sense of the word. Her deep-rooted Christian faith and values, steadfast devotion to family, and unshakable commitment to community is demonstrated by her academic pursuits, work ethics, social pursuits, active, attentive participation as a community activist, and thoughtful generous contributions to others. Her survival skills, instinct and resiliency lead her to her distinguished career in law enforcement with the San Francisco Police Department.
In his personal time, she enjoys writing, public speaking, teaching, reading, watching documentaries and of course Karaoke. Singing is said to be her real passion; once providing joy through songs throughout the Bay Area as a Karaoke DJ called “Yo Dupwa”. She remains active in the community and passionate about sharing her knowledge and skills transcend to influence the next generation of civically engaged-leaders.
She is a published author, with a featured cover story in Correctional Technology (CTM) Magazine called “Youth Courts – New Methods to Deal with Juvenile Delinquents”. When performing as Le Karaoke Queen “Ms. Yo Dupwa,” transcends her musical talents into the style of Etta James, Diana Ross and Whitney Houston. Over the years, Yulanda has been featured in many local news stations, printed publications as well as nationally syndicated talk shows, CNN News and Nightline. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding service, but her favorite awards are the “State of California 1997 Crime Prevention Volunteer Officer of the Year Award” received from the former Attorney General Dan Lungren, her 2001 “Congressional Recognition” for her service received from Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and her more recent awards for distinguished years of service from the Officers For Justice and theNAACP. Currently, Yulanda resides in the City of El Sobrante, California where she is the mother of two beautiful successful daughters and grandmother of seven grandchildren. She is a passionate, articulate, highly sought after and recognized charismatic motivational speaker.
She continues to explicitly share her compelling heart wrenching story of survival from a cult, her ability to utilize those same survival skills to survive a “Blue Cult” while being Black in Blue, and severaldomestic violence encounters with the San Francisco Sheriff Department’s Survivor Restoration Program during their Survivor Impact Day, the Barbershop Forums, Inc. and other speaking engagements. By her own account her duty is to serve and give back to her community and others on a daily basis.
On February 13, 2022, at the age of 66, Yulanda delivered her first sermon, “The Wake-Up Call,” at Jones United Methodist Church in San Francisco. As she transitions into retirement, Yulanda Williams’ future journey will include (like her father), attendance at seminary school to complete her master degree in Divinity and a doctorate in Theology.
Overall Lessons Learned during my Lifetime —
Interestingly, I am considered, “Too Black for the People’s Templehierarchy and too Black to be allowed to roam freely as a police officerin some communities. But, I was never too Black to be disproportionately incarcerated and/or punished by institutionalized systemic racism in both the private and public sector.”
“Too Black for the badge and too Blue for the hood”.
Looking back over the last 52 years of my life after People’s Temple I recognize some members of the public perceptions are that both PT and PD bears Stains of Shame.
Over 400 years of captivity. Our Black forefathers fought for our freedom and unsuspectingly a large number of unsuspecting Black Americans with the demon back into captivity under the guise of religion. We were thousands of miles away intwined under the leadership of the sinister James Warren Jones, Sr. Jones was a Slave Master portraying himself as the Chosen One, the Freedom Fighter, the Messiah, Great Jehovah, a Prophet sanctioned and ordained by God Almighty. Through fake healings and deliberate brainwashing tactics, Jones declared he was the Alpha & Omega. Jones operated under the protection of People’s Temple, highly respected Black leaders, politicians, and yes don’t forget this government. The government supported human trafficking of our people by not intervening they supported criminal behavior.
Feared by many because of his power control and influence, he was provided with the keys to this city; the City of St. Francis. However, there were two (2) leaderswho vocally protested his existence and presence; Dr. Rev. Amos Brown and the late Rev. Hannibal Williams. Although tried on numerous occasions Jim Jones and People’s Temple were never allowed to fellowship with or enter onto these two churches.
Sound familiars it should we are seeing his character and personality existing in the political arena today. Jones told so many fibs that he began to believe his own lies. He kept delivering the same messages to his followers 24/7. His brainwashing techniques were subtle and deliberate. The listeners stopped questioning him eventually believing his lies were truth. While the properties of Black people who owned homes were purchased overwhelmingly by John Stewart; who still is involved in property management in San Francisco.
Jones believed he should be the sole authoritarian and ruler, he made sacrifices for all and without his existence no one deserved to exist. No matter what would be the end result, he refused to lose. He also refused to accept the legal consequences for his crimes. Under his reign of power, there were constant excuses and rationale for his bizarre behavior. There was absolutely no accountability for Jim Jones. His ego was so inflated that he constantly proclaimed his goal was to go down in history as a great leader, a martyr.
We have never been treated as Americans in USA. This government successfully keeps us divided and that’s why we always have to reference ourselves based on our ethnicity instead of just simply stating that we are Americans. On this country we have to preference it by our ethnicity. Why in this country can we not just be known as Americans and treated with the dignity and respect that we all deserve. Because this is a divisive process allowing anarchy, hated, and racism to perpetuate equating to success.
Our brothers and sisters were brought to a foreign country. Although everything ignited in flames the last being 1859 Geary Blvd. a few trusted Survivors like me remain as a living breathing testimony of our unfortunate experience, captured and held captive by a maniac seeking notoriety. Please don’t repeat our mistakes everyone should learn from survivor’s testimony of the importance of faith when all else has failed. PT was a “cash cow” for Jim Jones.
Other rigid cold is the black Muslims (the Nation of Islam)Elijah Mohammed was like a god to them they would die for him they will kill you for him. Then of course there’s many other organized forms of accepted religious and faith-based organizations such as Jehovah Witnesses, The Church of Scientology, Father Devine Movement. What do they have in common? Each one of them requires that you lose yourself and give your all to the organization many of them also require members change their name and identity, and no longer allowed to associate or assimilate with non-church members so in other words you cut off all ties with your biological family members. The leader of these organized cults actions require that they have the ultimate authority over everything that you do in life. These leaders generally are believed by their followers to be ordained messengers from God. Therefore, members remain involved for many reasons commonly maintaining membership is rationalized out of an inherent stigma, fear of punishment, paranoia, insecurity, guilt, and fear of excommunication. Another well-known fear is for the cult to label former member(s)as “traitor(s)” this label would likely result in serious life-threatening injuries and/or death for denouncing the leader.
In hindsight what is very interesting as it seems as though my type a personality attracts me to organizations that require stricken here it’s to certain rules. I think this fact because first of all I became a member of People’s Temple which required strict allegiance, and 13 years Later I join the San Francisco Police Department not realizing that the police department and law-enforcement is another cult it’s an organized cult it’s except it because it’s an institutionalized coat I consider it “The Thin Blue Line Cult.” Because of my resistance to allow anyone to have ultimate control over me I never completely aligned with what was being required and requested of many officers. Instead of following the status quo, I maintained my personal views, resilience, associations and opinions. I rejected the hypocrisy of bias officers throughout my years in law enforcement. I morphed into an independent reform minded community oriented outspoken Black female Peace Officer.
Now serving as the President of the Officers For Justice Peace Officers Association as well as the 3rd Vice President of the San Francisco Branch of the NAACP and a member in good standing of the prestigious minority lead law enforcement organization known as NOBLE.
My favorite pastimes are writing, singing, mentoring others, representing and providing guidance to employees experiencing personnel & labor issues, and teaching youth and adults.
Rebuilding relationships of the Scattered ashes, one day at a time.
One at a time we are each committed to rebuilding relationships.
“Scattered Ashes”