Walter E. Headley

Walter E. Headley (May 11, 1905 – November 16, 1968) was the Chief of Police of Miami, Florida in the 1960s. Headley became famous for his use of the phrase "when the looting starts, the shooting starts". During his tenure as police chief, he was regarded as a popular public figure by many, in spite of his heavy-handed policies. This was an apparent reference to policies promulgated by Headley's predecessor, Chief H. Leslie Quigg.

Early life Headley was born in Philadelphia in 1905. According to Headley, when he was 15, he stole his father's draft card and joined the U.S. Army. Following work as a riding instructor and sausage salesman, and stated "his men have been told that any force, up to and including death, is proper when apprehending a felon". In a pithy soundbite during the post-statement interview with reporters, Headley claimed that Miami had avoided "civil uprising and looting" because he had "let the word filter down that when the looting starts, the shooting starts".

Headley stated: "Felons are going to learn that they can't be bonded out from the morgue." Florida Governor Claude Kirk expressed his support for Headley's tactics: "Let them all know they will be dealt with [harshly]. We have the weapons to defeat crime. Not to use them is a crime in itself." He was replaced as chief of police by Bernard L. Garmire.