“The Police Department knows the most about the criminal justice system,” says Williams. “They see what goes on every day, so they’re not affected by the DA’s tough cookie machine. They see that the system is broken.”

Williams says a third of gun cases and half of all felony cases get thrown out of preliminary court because prosecutors aren’t prepared.

The FOP picked Williams based on his plan for community-based prosecution to handle the city’s 70,000 annual criminal cases. Under this method, already employed in Atlanta and Chicago, assistant district attorneys handle cases geographically, by neighborhood or police district. They also work directly with residents, community groups and police to address specific quality-of-life issues. Williams says the streamlined approach means fewer cases tossed out of court.

“Just that type of thinking alone, to do something different, is worth trying,” says FOP chief of staff Eugene Blagmond, expressing concern for the high percentage of felony arrests dismissed from court. “Victims of crime should feel they can get justice. Police officers should feel if they arrest someone, that person will be brought to justice. Right now the system just doesn’t work.”