Former Corrections Officer Killed In Kosovo

Hundreds came out this past Friday to mourn the passing of Lynn Marie Williams, one of three American peacekeepers ambushed and killed in Kosovo on April 17.
The service, held at the St. Johns Baptist Church in Far Rockaway, was attended by family, friends and those who had worked with Williams in the Department of Corrections.
Her casket was flanked by officers, and the honor guard played in commemoration of a life lost in service to her country.
"She was very vibrant, outgoing and generous," said her son, Joseph Williams, 26. "Her family and her Bible were very important to her. She was always willing to help people; if they needed things done, they went to her." Her strong family ties allowed her to have an influence on her sisters, Brenda and Samantha, family members said.
Williams, 48, of Elmont, had recently retired after 20 years as a Rikers Island corrections officer. She fought to become the first female to join the Emergency Service Unit of the Department of Corrections.
Most recently, Williams was an employee of DynCorp International, who assigned her to a United Nations team of retired law enforcement personnel. Williams had gone to Kosovo to help in setting up a correctional system in the war-torn country.
Slated to stay overseas for one to two years, the group of international police officers/peacekeepers was attacked without warning by Sergeant Major Ahmed Mustafa Ibrahim Ali, a member of the Jordanian special police unit. They had been there 10 days and just completed their first day of job orientation.
"Like everyone else, I didnt want her to go," said Williams. "But I supported her because I loved her."
Ali also killed Kim Bigley of Paducah, Kentucky and Gary Weston of Vienna, Illinois and wounded 11 others. Ali was later killed in an ensuing gun fight.
Preliminary evidence from the investigation into the incident has shown that Ali had ties to Hamas, the militant group. It is unclear as yet whether the ambush was an act of terrorism.
Computer Sciences Corporation, owner of DynCorp International, released the following statement regarding the incident:
"The management and staff of Computer Sciences Corporation and its DynCorp International business unit stand united in our sadness over the deaths and injuries sustained by our employees … We extend our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to the families of the fallen and injured officers, and will assist the employees families to comfort and sustain them through this difficult time. Our international police officers are courageous professionals who often work under dangerous conditions in service to humanity … Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims."
"Just knowing that she died doing what she really wanted to do is comforting," said Joseph Williams. "She got all the recognition in death that she deserved in life. I know shes happy because she always wanted to make other peoples lives better."
DynCorp International hires retired police and corrections officers and judiciary officials at rates ranging from $70,000 per year to $3,000 per day, depending on the overseas locale, in hot spots around the world.