Vice President
Steve R. Willard
Vice President Willard and Commissioner Cliff Robertson
Vice President Steve Willard joined the San Diego Police Department in 1985 and has worked in patrol, crime prevention and the detective bureau. With a grandfather that was a fire chief and a father who currently serves as a police chief in central Illinois, he is the 3rd generation of his family to serve in the emergency services field.
In addition to extensive expertise in forensic video and composite artistry and covert alarm systems, Vice President Willard holds a certificate in intermediate Crime Scene Investigation from California State University Long Beach and an advanced certificate from the California Department of Justice. He has also obtained certificates in intermediate and advanced courses in fingerprint classification and identification through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Vice President Willard joined the SDPHA as a director in 1997 and was promoted to his current position in 2004. Prior to joining the board he designed the current insignia of the San Diego Police Historical Association and donated the proceeds to the museum.
As a board member, Vice President Willard has consulted on several historical projects including the books, “1851 Los Angeles Gangs” and “Images of America, Oceanside Police Department.”
Vice President Willard is himself a published author having penned the book “Images of America, San Diego Police Department” in 2005. His second book, America's Finest, a history of San Diego City law enforcement, was released in December 2006. He is also a member of the prestigious Authors Guild, a 95-year-old professional organization based in New York City.
Vice President Willard is currently working on a third book project, a fictional account of San Diego murder in 1941.