Jefferson County’s First African American Sheriff Wants to Boost Diversity
Like a lot of kids, Mark Pettway wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. But as he got older, things changed. Pettway begins his job as Jefferson County sheriff today. He’s the first African American to hold that post after defeating longtime Republican Sheriff Mike Hale in November.
“Later on in life I saw where we needed someone in law enforcement because I was a victim. I was racially profiled,” Pettway says. “I was pulled over because the type of car I was driving or because of the color of my skin — not because I broke a law.
Pettway grew up near Legion Field in the College Hills neighborhood. He was one of six children. His father was a career military man and his mother was an educator. His grandfather, Levi Satisfield Sr., was a well-known minister in Ensley. Pettway followed in his footsteps and went into the ministry.
“Jesus was not soft. Jesus whupped the people out of the temple now,” Pettway says. “I can rule with compassion. But at the same time, I’m fair but I’m firm.”
Pettway started out as a beat cop in Fairfield in 1993. From there he went to Jefferson County, where he held several positions, eventually working as a detective. But he wanted to become sheriff mainly to make the agency more diverse. He wants to hire and promote more women and minorities.
“We will hire from right here,” he says. “We can better serve the county by having the ones in leadership reflect the county.”
Pettway says he wants to better prepare deputies to work in diverse communities and get to know more of the people they serve. And he wants to equip police to work with people with mental illness.He plans better education and job training for inmates. He says that will help reduce recidivism.
At his swearing-in ceremony on Friday, Greater Shiloh Baptist Church was packed. Pettway’s family came from around the country.
His cousin Rev. Traci Satisfield Blackmon, was a lead activist in Ferguson, Missouri after the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown.
Blackmon was moved to tears watching her cousin being sworn in on Friday.
“I spend most of my days combatting police violence and unjust laws, and I believe in my cousin,” Blackmon says. “So I believe he’s going to do everything he can to unite Birmingham and to unite Jefferson County.”
Wanda Mitchell, who retired from the sheriff’s department, met Pettway when he started work as a deputy.
Sherrel Wheeler Stewart,WBHM 90.3 FM
Sheriff Mark Pettway answers questions in December after announcing his transition team.
She’s confident he’ll do a good job. “I think he’ll do good where we are at this time, where there is so much police controversy and community breakdown,” Mitchell says. “I think he will bridge that gap for us.”
Bruce Pettway, the sheriff’s younger brother, says his brother is a leader and a protector. “If we played football he wanted to be the quarterback,” the younger Pettway says. “If we played basketball, he wanted to be the point guard.”
Jefferson County is off to a rocky start with crime this year. Already there have been at least six violent deaths, including a Birmingham police officer killed on Sunday morning.
Today, depending on how you look at it, Mark Pettway steps in as the new point guard or quarterback to fight crime.
Foreign nationals propel U.S. science. Visa limits under Trump could change that
The incoming Trump administration is likely to crack down on the H-1B visas used by tech companies and research institutions to hire top talent from other countries.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
Are you a caregiver for an adult? How has it changed you?
Many who care for family members and loved ones at home say it can be very stressful but also rich in meaning. Share your story and insights.
MF DOOM’s music was his legend. The man himself was the myth
The late rapper's 2004 album MM..FOOD may never have the classic status of its sister release, Madvillainy. But 20 years later, it's the one to play if you want to hear the essence of his artistry.
Here’s how Trump and the GOP may try to weaken Obamacare
Republican control of the White House and Congress sets the stage for potentially seismic changes including curtailing Medicaid, weakening patient protections, and increasing premium costs for millions.
Richer countries are starting to pay poorer ones for climate change damages
With climate-related disasters getting more extreme, richer countries are piloting ways to compensate developing nations, since they bear the least responsibility for causing climate change.
