William Willett joined the Nassau County Police Department in the 1950s, serving first as a beat cop for a predominately white community. Over the course of his nearly 50-year career, Mr. Willett moved up the ranks, becoming the first African-American to hold several top positions, including inspector, deputy commissioner and in 2000, he was appointed police commissioner - the department's highest post.

To those who worked with him, Mr. Willett was a fair, compassionate and dedicated officer, a great friend and the perfect boss. "As he went through ranks, he was always looking out for others," said Ernest J. Cipullo, commissioner of the Garden City Police Department and president of the Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association. "He was never looking for attention or the limelight. As long as I knew him that is the way he did things and that definitely says something about the man."

On April 16, hundreds of county officials and law enforcement officers from throughout Nassau lined Post Avenue to pay their final respects to Commissioner Willett. Mr. Willett, who retired from the police department in 2002, lost his battle with lung cancer and died on April 12. He was 71 years old.

Mr. Willett was born in Glen Cove on May 4, 1931. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served a four-year term during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return, Mr. Willett pursued a career in law enforcement and, in 1953, worked as one of the first African-American beat cops in Garden City Park.

In 1957, he married his wife, Floretta, and by the early 1960s the couple moved to Westbury. Over the years, as their family grew to include seven children, so did Mr. Willett's career with the department. He spent a great deal of the 1960s and 1970s working with the department's Community Relations Bureau. In 1981 he was named deputy chief of patrol and 11 years later, in 1992, was one of three candidates considered for commissioner, but was passed over. In 1994, Mr. Willett was named first deputy commissioner of police and in 2000, then-County Executive Thomas Gulotta named him commissioner.

"I thought I would stall out at first deputy commissioner, which was quite an achievement," Mr. Willett said during a March 2000 interview with The Westbury Times. "However, for my last years in the police department, it is great to be able to undertake the ultimate challenge."

"He loved cops, loved police work," said Inspector Patrick O'Connor, commanding officer of the 1st Precinct. "He was very protective of his cops, always looking out for their welfare and was always concerned. If he knew you had a problem he would ask about it and was there to listen and, if asked, lend advice."

O'Connor added, "He was probably the fairest man I know. I can't say enough nice things about him."

Inspector Peter Matuza, commanding officer of the 6th Precinct, agreed, saying, "He was like a father figure, always looking out for us. He was a cop's cop."

Matuza worked with Mr. Willett several times throughout his career, beginning in 1973 when as a police officer, Matuza was assigned to the 5th Precinct under Inspector Willett and again in 2000 when, as commissioner, Mr. Willett drafted Matuza to be his public relations officer. "He was a wonderful man and extremely fair boss," said Matuza. "He remembered everybody. If you worked with him 20, 25 years ago he remembered your name, and not just your last name, he remembered your first name too."

According to Gary DelaRaba, president of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Mr. Willett was "A class act. A perfect gentleman, good leader and probably one of the wisest men I have ever met on this job. He always remembered where he came from and where he was going."

County Executive Thomas Suozzi, who had the pleasure of working with Mr. Willett for the first four months of his term, said the late police commissioner will be remembered fondly for, "His commitment to the force and his ability as a leader [to] help shape the department into one of the premier police forces in the country."

Suozzi also said, "William Willett's legacy of professionalism, fairness and determination will serve as a model for Nassau County police for generations to come. With a distinguished career that spanned 30 years, Commissioner Willett witnessed firsthand Nassau's transformation from a sleepy community into a modern suburb, complete with many of the problems inherent in an urban city."

Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell, chair of the Public Safety Commission, said, "I had the highest respect for him as a person and it was an honor to work with him. [His death] is a tremendous loss for Nassau County."

Commissioner Cipullo added, "He was a true professional and a good friend who will be sorely missed."

Mr. Willett is survived by his wife, Floretta; sons Blake Willett of West Babylon and Daniel Willett of Westbury; daughters Theresa Willett and Rachell Willett, both of Westbury; brothers, George of Winston-Salem, NC, and John; and sister Elsie Drewery of Glen Cove.