Jake Williams has joined the Tonganoxie Police Department, where his father, Mark Williams, served for more than 10 years prior to his death in 2003.

At 4:10 p.m. on Aug. 19, 2003, Leavenworth County dispatch made its final call for Tonganoxie police Lt. Mark Williams.

Jake Williams wears a new badge, but his badge number is the same as his father’s, which was retired but has been reactivated.

“May you be guided in your journey, and may you rest in peace,” a dispatcher said.

Williams, 44, had died Aug. 16, 2003, from complications of a heart attack.

The Tonganoxie Police Department retired Williams’ badge number after his death, a sign of respect for a man who had served on the force for more than 10 years.

Now, six years later, the badge number is back in service.

Williams’ son, Jake Williams, is now a Tonganoxie police officer.

When Jake was hired, Police Chief Kenny Carpenter asked him whether he wanted his father’s badge number.

“I was little bit conflicted,” Jake said. “It was almost a respect thing. But at the same time, it was important to have that number and keep it going.”

Jake wears a new badge on his uniform. His father’s badge and name tag are kept in a shadow box.

Jake, 23, is a 2004 Tonganoxie High School graduate. He graduated in May from the law enforcement academy at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.

Some youths aren’t sure of what career path they want to take until they’re in college, or later. That never was the case for Jake, who said he determined at age 5 that he wanted to be a police officer.

Jake noted that he has several relatives in law enforcement, including a cousin who is a police officer in San Diego.

Mark Williams was serving as acting police chief when he died. He was filling in for Carpenter, who had been called to active duty for a year to do security inspections at Army Reserve armories in four states.

Carpenter said he’s glad to see Jake in the same line of work as his father.

“We’re happy to see that Mark’s son is now in law enforcement and doing well,” Carpenter said. “But as far as him working here it’s no different than any other young officer we would hire. He’s here because of who Jake is, not because of who his dad was.

“He’s doing a good job. We’re happy with his performance.”

Police dispatcher and Tonganoxie Mayor Mike Vestal said he was encouraged to see Jake want to come back to Tonganoxie and work. And if he decides to leave the department, the memory of his father will continue to be honored.

“When Jake leaves, if Jake ever leaves, we’ll retire that badge number again,” Vestal said.