The city of Crestwood has two new department heads after a new police chief and parks and recreation director were unanimously appointed by the Board of Aldermen Tuesday.
Succeeding former Chief of Police Ron Compton, who retired Oct. 14 from the Crestwood Police Department, is Jonathan Williams, a lieutenant with the Webster Groves Police Department.
Williams was hired with a starting salary of $97,500.
Williams has worked in law enforcement for nearly 20 years, after beginning his career with Webster Groves in 2000 and advancing through the ranks serving as patrol officer, detective, sergeant and lieutenant. He also completed a detachment with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
As lieutenant in Webster Groves, Williams received numerous accolades, including Officer of the Year in 2002.
Williams graduated from DePauw University in 2000 with an undergraduate degree in communications and earned his master’s degree with honors in management and leadership from Webster University in 2019. This year, he completed the Command College through the Missouri Police Chief’s Charitable Foundation.
“Lt. Williams’ experience and qualifications are impressive,” said Mayor Grant Mabie in a press release. “The Board of Aldermen and I are confident that Lt. Williams will continue to build upon the Crestwood Police Department’s well-deserved reputation for excellence.”
In addition to Williams, the board also appointed Eilien Ramirez, the city’s manager of recreation, to be the next director of parks and recreation at a starting salary of $83,000. The director of parks and recreation position has been vacant for a decade.
Ramirez has been the manager of recreation since 2017 and has over 24 years of experience in the parks and recreation field. She has overseen the day-to-day operations of the recreation department, Community Center and Aquatic Center.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education-sports management from Blackburn College in 1992 and is a certified parks and recreation professional and certified aquatic facility operator. She was recognized statewide by the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association as a Distinguished Aquatic Professional in 2014 and as a Distinguished Fitness Professional in 2016. She also serves on the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association’s Board of Directors.
Mabie, noting the high value city residents place on parks and recreation, said, “To reflect the importance of those services, the city will benefit from a dedicated, experienced professional leading those operations at the director level so that we can continue our excellent level of service. Ms. Ramirez is the best person for this job, and we are thrilled to have her as our next parks and recreation director.”
