First Police Review Finds BPD Is “Doing Pretty Good,” Woodfin Says, Ends With Explicit Ban On Chokeholds
Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Tuesday morning that his office’s 30-day internal review of the Birmingham Police Department had been completed. The result?
“While we found that we are doing pretty good, there is still room for improvement,” he said.
Woodfin officially announced the review June 10, following sustained nationwide protests over the police killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd. Protestors in Birmingham had repeatedly called for the city to “defund the police” by giving part of the city’s $150,000 ammunition budget to social services. Woodfin maintained that the police department, like all community-facing city departments, would have its budget “combed through” during this year’s extended budget process, which will stretch through September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everything is on the table,” he said.
In the meantime, the internal review focused primarily on criteria promoted by #8CANTWAIT, a national campaign calling for immediate policy changes — such as banning chokeholds and strangleholds and requiring officers to de-escalate situations wherever possible — to police departments throughout the country. The results, Woodfin said, showed that “in spirit, Birmingham is in alignment with the standards of #8CANTWAIT.”
The results of the review are available at PeaceAndPolicy.com, and highlight two “opportunities to strengthen” BPD policy.
First is an explicit ban on chokeholds and strangleholds — which Woodfin said are not authorized by the BPD and not taught as part of the department’s training curriculum.
“While that is good, I want to go a step further and implement an outright ban,” Woodfin said.
Second, Woodfin said he also would add “direct language” to the BPD’s use-of-force policy establishing officers’ “duty to intervene” if they see a colleague using excessive force.
The release of the review came just after Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, where the council approved a five-year, $7.5 million lease of BPD body cameras.
“We don’t need a lapse or want a lapse in making sure that if there’s an issue where an officer is involved, that the information is captured,” Woodfin said.
The review of the police department will continue, Woodfin added, with a 90-day study by a newly appointed community safety task force. Woodfin and District 2 Councilor Hunter Williams will co-chair the committee, which will consist of five other members: Jaselle Houghtlin, a recent UAB graduate and co-founder of the advocacy group ‘Listen;’ Cara McClure, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Birmingham; Victor Revill, an attorney with Revill and Associates; Ed Watkins, a former police detective with the NYPD and BPD; and Joyce Vance, the former U.S. Attorney for the northern district of Alabama.
The task force, will take a “deeper dive” into BPD policy and procedures over the next three months, Woodfin said, “and see what other opportunities emerge.” Members of the public are also encouraged to send their ideas for police reform to peace@birminghamal.gov.
“With feedback from this task force and you, the public, we will come out of this better than where we began,” Woodfin said. “But please remember we won’t get there overnight. It will take time as we balance individual civil liberties with the government’s duty to ensure public safety.”
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.
Most of the country shifted right in the 2024 presidential election
In 2020, President Biden won six of the seven closely watched states. This year, President-elect Donald Trump won all seven — plus he will got a majority of the popular vote.
