Captain, W. “Bill” Downs, started his law enforcement career in 1969 with the Nassau County Police Department, Long Island, New York. He attended the New York Institute of Technology working toward a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice/Behavioral Science. After twenty years of service to the residents of Nassau County he honorably retired and relocated to New Port Richey, Florida in May of 1992. His father, brother and son have all served with the New York City Police Department, something that he is particularly proud of.

After successful completion of the Pasco Hernando Police Academy he reentered the law enforcement field and through diligent effort worked his way up the ranks from Patrolman, through Captain finally becoming the Chief of Police, a position he honorably held from 1996 through 2003.

Captain Downs possesses strong management and leadership skills, and experience in areas such as labor relations, customer service, community involvement and working with state and county law enforcement agencies. He is a state Certified Law Enforcement Instructor and has Cross Designation as a U.S. Customs Officer. He started efforts towards the department’s Accreditation, a goal that he strongly supports and participates in. He created a very successful program known as CPOP (Community Problem Oriented Policing). He modernized the department’s Marine Patrol Division and was successful in gathering the support of the local business community and various other community organizations to finance the purchase of portable external Defibrillators for patrol vehicles. The Port Richey Police Department was the first police department in Pasco County to carry external defibrillators in patrol vehicles. He was awarded the Chief’s Achievement and Good Conduct awards in March 2000 and was selected for and awarded the Police Officer of the Year Award by the New Port Richey Elks Lodge in 2003.

Captain Downs has served as a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, is a member of the Pasco Hernando Community College Advisory Board and numerous Fraternal organizations.

He has attended and successfully completed courses of training and continuing education at the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, the Southeastern Public Safety Institute and the Pasco Hernando Community College. He is presently moving forward with continued education.

Captain Downs is from the “old school” and strongly believes that policing is a profession, not just a job. He enjoys working with young officers and takes every opportunity to impart his values with respect to public service, ethical behavior and duty.