Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper Steps Down

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2017/11/roper2-scaled.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:6:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1587;s:4:"file";s:25:"2017/11/roper2-scaled.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-336x208.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:208;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-771x478.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:478;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-768x476.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:476;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"roper2-1536x952.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:952;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"roper2-2048x1270.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1270;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"roper2-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-502x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:502;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-427x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:427;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"roper2-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:10:"1482301890";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}s:14:"original_image";s:10:"roper2.jpg";}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sherrel Wheeler Stewart
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM 90.3 FM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1656059186 
1511966363

After weeks of speculation, Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper is stepping down. Mayor Randall Woodfin confirmed today that Roper did not reapply for his position.

“After a considerable amount of prayer, my family and I decided I would not submit a resume for consideration,” Roper said in a prepared statement. “I advised Mayor Woodfin on Nov. 8, that this is perfect timing since Nov. 26  would be my 10-year anniversary.”

Roper said Woodfin has asked him to stay on during the search for a new police chief. Woodfin says there will be a national search for a new  police chief and local candidates also will be considered.

“Serving as Chief of Police in the amazing city of my birth has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Roper said.

Woodfin says there will also be new leadership in at least three other city departments. Human Resources Chief Peggy Polk is retiring. The directors in the Community Development and Economic Development departments will be replaced and those departments will be restructured, Woodfin says. John Colon had led Community Development four years and Lisa Cooper has led Economic Development three years.

 

Trump to rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ which protects 58 million acres of forest land

Speaking in New Mexico, President Trump's Secretary of Agriculture announced her intention to roll back a landmark 2001 conservation rule passed in the late hour of the Clinton administration.

Does Congress or the president hold war powers? Here’s what to know

President Trump's decision to launch airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities without first consulting Congress has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers who say the move bypasses their constitutional authority to declare war.

U.S. Supreme Court allows — for now — third-country deportations

A federal judge had previously said people must get at least 15 days to challenge their deportations to countries they're not originally from.

Democratic senators rent space at the Kennedy Center to host a Pride event

A group of Democratic senators and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller are hosting a Pride celebration at the Kennedy Center Monday evening. But the Kennedy Center has nothing to do with programming it.

What to know about Jeff Bezos’ upcoming Venice wedding — and the protests against it

Bezos will soon marry Lauren Sánchez in Venice. Protesters say the city, already grappling with overtourism, is putting the wedding over their needs — which city officials and wedding organizers deny.

Emmy nominations voting ends tonight. Here’s what our critic hopes will make the cut

Emmy voters have until tonight to send in their picks for nominees. Here's what NPR TV critic Eric Deggans thinks they should be voting for.

More 2017 Birmingham City Elections Coverage