Cody Williams poses outside the Murphy Police Department downtown. Williams became a town police officer on Aug. 10 after nearly a decade of experience with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
Murphy – Murphy Police Department’s latest addition to the force may be a familiar face because, until recently, he was a patrol sergeant with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.
Cody Williams, 31, is a native of Cherokee County with almost a decade of law enforcement experience. Ryan Cunningham, assistant chief of police with Murphy police and himself a former sheriff’s sergeant, unabashedly confirms that he recruited Williams for his new position.
Williams’ last day with the sheriff’s office was June 28. He pinned on a Murphy Police Department badge and took the oath of office on Aug. 10.
The six weeks and one day interim – “it took that long to get the paperwork,” he said – was spent helping out with administrative tasks and going on ride-alongs as an unarmed observer with Murphy police.
On Aug. 10, he resumed his career in law enforcement. The ceremony was attended by Williams, Police Chief Tim Lominac and Cunningham, and administered by Clerk of Court Roger Gibson.
The biggest adjustment has been dealing with traffic accidents, Williams said. On county roads, the N.C. Highway Patrol handles and investigates traffic accidents. In town, that’s Murphy police’s job.
The first significant traffic accident he handled on his own (aside from fender benders) happened on Aug. 15 at the main intersection in downtown. The collision was fairly mild – one vehicle turned into the path of another – but it gave Williams a chance to put into practice a new skillset, like how to direct traffic, how to clear the intersection of wrecked vehicles, how to fill out the paperwork, etc.
Just another step in a long journey.
The son of a U.S. Navy man who served in law enforcement, Williams enrolled at Tri-County Community College to receive his basic law enforcement training the earliest he possibly could at age 21. Williams was raised in Peachtree and graduated from Murphy High School, where he participated in football, track and – at his father’s urging – wrestling.
He always looked up to his father, Roger Williams, who has served with the Murphy Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Graham County Sheriff’s Office, where he works today.
Williams said his dad was excited about his son following his footsteps, although his mother, Cathy Williams, was less enthusiastic. Williams has two older brothers, one who is a Navy reservist and works with the U.S. Forest Service, and another who works with the Cable Company.
Cunningham has had his eye on Williams for some time. Cunningham worked with the sheriff’s office for nine years before signing on with Murphy police in 2015.
Cunningham said finding experience law enforcement officers is challenging, and Williams joining the force is a win-win at the basic level, Williams fills an open slot, but he brings years of experience and a life-long knowledge of the county.