NEWBERRY COUNTY, S.C. — Two trailblazers in law enforcement are making history in Newberry while working to inspire the next generation.

Sgt. Yolanda Williams is the first Black female officer in the Newberry Police Department. Khadijah Gaskins is the department’s first Black female investigator.

Both women said their journeys into law enforcement were driven by a desire to serve their community.

Williams began her career in juvenile justice before transitioning into policing. She has spent more than a decade building relationships and giving back.

“It’s just a title because I’m still who I was before I became a police officer. I never changed. You know, people see you different, but I see myself as the same person, you know?” Williams said. “With or without the uniform on, I’m the same person outside of uniform, so being the first Black female, it’s a goal, it’s an accomplishment, it’s something that I’m proud that I was able to do.”

Williams said her message to others is to keep pushing forward despite challenges.

“Don’t give up, don’t allow someone to tell you you can’t do it or you can’t, you know, you’re too old, or, you know, you don’t have the drive to do it,” she said. “Don’t let somebody bring your spirit down to say that you can’t do something. You can do anything that you want to do.”

For Gaskins, her role extends beyond investigations. For the past five years, she has been active in mentoring and community engagement through the department’s Community Action Team. She also works cases involving juvenile victims and offenders while assisting with other investigations.

“It’s big for me because I can show them like, ‘Hey, you can do it, just work for it,'” Gaskins said. “I’ve always wanted to do like crime scene investigations, and then I ran into the chief at an event downtown, and they were talking about how they’re hiring, and stuff. I was like, I’ll apply, and I’ve been here since.”

Gaskins said she hopes her journey encourages others to stay motivated, even when facing obstacles.

“It shows the young Black girls, the Black girls that’s in law enforcement, just starting, keep going, be you,” she said. “It’s gonna be hard. You’re gonna have to work harder than pretty much everyone else that you work with, but it’s worth it.”

Both officers said they hope their stories inspire the next generation to pursue careers in law enforcement and make a difference in their communities.