At its October meeting, the Royal ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Dalton Williams as the district’s new Chief of Police with a 7–0 vote.

Williams brings nearly a decade of experience in law enforcement and corrections, including more than five years of dedicated service to Royal ISD. Since joining the Royal ISD Police Department in March 2021, Williams has served in several capacities, including police officer, detective, sergeant, and lieutenant. Throughout his tenure, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to student safety, emergency preparedness, and building positive relationships throughout the district, RISD said in its October 15 announcement. Most recently, Williams has served as RISD Acting Chief over the past several months.

"Chief Williams has been a longstanding team member of the Royal ISD family, and we are excited to see him now serving as our permanent Police Chief,” Royal ISD Superintendent Dr. Megan C. Pape said. “Over the past several months serving as Acting Chief, he has demonstrated strong leadership and law enforcement expertise. He has been a central part in staffing our police department this school year, and finding exceptional officers to become a part of the RISD family. His experience, knowledge of our district, hard work, integrity, passion for the role, positive attitude, ability to team-build, leadership, and commitment to ensuring a safe campus for all students, staff and families make him the top choice to lead our police department into the future.”

In his previous leadership roles, Williams supervised officers and school resource officers, coordinated campus patrols and emergency responses, conducted criminal investigations, and supported the implementation of district safety procedures. He has also played an instrumental role in strengthening Royal ISD's emergency preparedness efforts, a district spokesperson said. As project manager for the district's Raptor Alert emergency management system, he has overseen implementation, coordinated staff training, and collaborated with campus administrators and district personnel to enhance emergency response protocols.

Prior to joining Royal ISD, Williams served with the Waller County Sheriff's Office, where he held the rank of corporal, and with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration in 2024 and his master's degree in public administration in 2025 from Columbia Southern University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in criminal justice leadership. Williams is a licensed Texas peace officer and holds additional certifications in emergency response, CPR, first aid, and other areas of public safety.

As Chief of Police, Williams will oversee the district's police department, working closely with campus administrators, staff, families, and community law enforcement partners to maintain safe and supportive learning environments.