Background

The Winters Police Department is a member of the Yolo Emergency Communications Agency (YECA), a joint powers agency that performs dispatching services. The Police Department combines proactive law enforcement techniques with a strong commitment to customer service. The Department is staffed with 9 sworn positions, consisting of a Chief, a Sergeant, and 7 Patrol Officers. The Department has a Reserve Officer program which provides additional assistance and coverage for fulltime sworn officers. The Winters Police Department works in collaboration with outside agencies in accordance to a countywide mutual aid agreement.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Winters Police Department is dedicated to protecting the lives and property of our citizens.

Our goal is to ensure the safety of every person and to serve the public with professionalism and courtesy.

To accomplish this, we are committed to excellence and will not accept anything less.

We shall diligently pursue every investigation until every possible lead has been exhausted.

We take pride in serving our community and preserving the community's social morals and values.

"Protection Our Duty, Service Our Goal"

 

MEMORIAL

City of Winters Marshal William P Rice

City Marshal Rice was killed in the line of duty on October 18th 1912. Marshal Rice was unarmed when he assisted Constable Andrews who was responding to a call about an intoxicated man waiving a gun in the street.  Marshal Rice had been able to talk to the man on previous occasions and entered the intoxicated man’s residence.  Marshal Rice entered through the front door as Constable Andrews and the reporting party (identified as James W Chapman) went around the back.  The intoxicated man fired and shot Marshal Rice in the chest.  He was arrested as he stepped into the street to re-load his gun.   Marshal Rice had been employed for six months.  He was married to Alice Chadwick in 1906.  He left behind a son, Harry Rice aged 14 months. 

Thanks to the generosity of Winters citizens, CSO Jimenez has been able to find the names of 8 generations of the Rice Family. Numerous documents pertaining to the Rice Family individuals and the death of Marshal Rice have also been located.  Al Graf and Theresa Sackett contributed their memories, photographs and notes.  Tom Crisp also did a fantastic job in tracking Marshal Rice’s family through Ancestry.com.  He was able to locate Kathy, who is a great grandchild of Mary Ottie “Molly” Rice.  Mary Rice is Marshal Rice’s sister. 

City Marshall William Rice was added to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington DC in 2011and will be added to the State Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Sacramento in 2012.