[1] During his tenure as police chief, he was regarded as a popular public figure by many, in spite of his heavy-handed policies.
[3]: 2 This was an apparent reference to policies promulgated by Headley's predecessor, Chief H. Leslie Quigg.
[4] On December 26, 1967, during the civil unrest in the United States that occurred in the long, hot summer of 1967, Headley announced that six three-man teams of officers equipped with "shotguns and dogs" would respond to the "young hoodlums" from "Negro districts" in Miami with lethal force[5][6] and stated "his men have been told that any force, up to and including death, is proper when apprehending a felon".
[5][8][9] Headley stated: "Felons are going to learn that they can't be bonded out from the morgue.
"[10] Florida Governor Claude Kirk expressed his support for Headley's tactics: "Let them all know they will be dealt with [harshly].