Housing inspector is cop, family man


 

WINSTED — Always managing a full plate, Housing Inspector Steve Williams covers many areas as a town employee and volunteer, juggling bad weather, bad traffic and bad guys.

Born in Hartford, Williams was raised in Bloomfield. After graduating from high school there in 1974, he moved to Torrington with his family and took a job as a public safety dispatcher in Canton before joining the Torrington Police Department in 1978.

"I spent all my career in the patrol division," said Williams. "I had some temporary-basis transfers in the detective division."

But his role in police work was not limited to walking a beat. In addition to working as a patrol officer, Williams was heavily involved in traffic accident investigations and reconstruction. Prior to retiring from the force, he was supervisor of the Regional Accident Reconstruction Team, consisting of officers from Winsted, Torrington and Thomaston. He worked with accident reconstruction for 16 of his 27 years on the job.

In 2005, Williams applied for the position of housing inspector for the town of Winchester, a part-time position. Williams manages a heavy work load during the day and often attends training programs on his own time as a way to expand his credentials.

"If I can do something to help, I am willing to get training or get certified," said Williams. "As a resident of the town and a taxpayer, I know times are tight. You have to take extra training to be more marketable for the town."

As housing inspector, Williams is responsible for three main tasks: investigating property maintainance code complaints, inspecting rental properties and assisting the police department with investigations of junk car complaints. He also conducts sidewalk inspections in the winter.

In addition to his role as a housing inspector, Williams is also a certified and appointed deputy fire marshal in Winchester, assisting with inspections. He has also been certified as a code inspector for the Inland Wetlands Commission. Recently, Williams has become involved outside of work with a statewide task force creating a housing and property maintenance code. A draft is nearly ready to go before legislators.

As a volunteer, Williams is a member of the Winsted Fire Department Fire Police. Joining in 1998, Williams felt the fire police was a perfect fit to combine volunteer work with what he knew as a police officer.

"For me, I felt I knew how to direct traffic. I already knew about crowd control and protecting a fire scene and protecting crime scenes," said Williams. "I felt my talents were more useful in that company than to go through fire training and be in an engine company or the tower."

Williams is also a member of SkyWarn, a volunteer weather reporting organization that works closely with the National Weather Service. Since 2000, Williams has emerged as a leader serving as a county and state amateur radio emergency service supporter for the National Weather Service.

"That’s something since I was a kid I had an interest in, weather observation," said Williams.

Also in line with amateur radio operations, Williams is a member of two local ham operator groups, Wireless Operators of Winsted and CQ Radio Club in Torrington.

In his spare time, Williams enjoys spending time with his wife, Jill, and their four-year-old cocker spaniel, Lady. Together they have four children, Devon, Steven, Patrick and Meghan.

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