Crime Reduction Plan for Birmingham Coming Next Month
By Sam Prickett
Several months after taking the job, Birmingham Police Chief Patrick D. Smith is expected to deliver a comprehensive plan for crime reduction to the City Council next month.
The announcement of the plan was made at Tuesday’s council meeting by Cedric D. Sparks, Mayor Randall Woodfin’s chief of staff, in response to concerns expressed by the council about increasing rates of violent crime in the city.
“I’m really anxious to know, when are we going to get with the police chief as a body to figure out how we are going to work together to eliminate crime in our city?” asked District 1 Councilor Lashunda Scales.
The answer, Sparks replied, would be November. “The mayor wanted to provide the chief an opportunity to get here, get his arms around several of the issues that are affecting our city and also have a comprehensive plan to report out,” he said. “That plan will (be given) to the council as a body in the month of November.”
Smith was hired to the job after a nationwide search in June, midway through what is on track to become the city’s deadliest year in decades. As of Oct. 16, Birmingham had logged 92 homicides in 2018, slightly ahead of the 87 homicides that had been reported at this point last year. By the end of 2017, Birmingham had a reported 117 homicides, the highest rate since 1995.
Since his hiring, Smith has made several changes to the department, including lowering the minimum age for new hires — a move intended to combat a significant personnel shortage in the department — and changing the department’s shift schedule to a “4/10” model, which he has said will lead to “overlapping responses (and) sufficient units in the field.”
Last month, the council approved a program to install nearly 100 surveillance cameras at undisclosed points throughout the city — intended to combat violent crime.
No specific date has been given for Smith’s presentation to the council; Sparks said he would individually contact councilors to find a suitable date.
Boeing machinists approve contract, bringing an end to a bruising seven-week strike
Striking machinists voted to approve an agreement that will hike wages by 38%. The deal was endorsed by union leaders, who warned that Boeing’s next offer might be worse.
States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence
Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.
When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?
Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.
When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline
The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.
How has the Electoral College survived, despite being perennially unpopular?
Despite its substantial-sounding name, the Electoral College isn’t a permanent body: It’s more of a process. For decades, a majority of Americans have wanted it to be changed.
Thousands of Pennsylvania voters have had their mail ballot applications challenged
Thousands of last-minute challenges to voters’ mail ballot applications, along with baseless claims by former President Donald Trump, are adding pressure on Pennsylvania county officials.
