Scott Thurmond named Birmingham Police Chief
Scott Thurmond, who served as Birmingham’s interim police chief for the last four months, will take on the role permanently. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Thurmond’s appointment as police chief Thursday.
Thurmond is a 23-year veteran of the department. He has previously led several precincts, including the West Precinct where he helped reduce crime by 25% in 2020, according to the city. Thurmond also served in various leadership roles as a sergeant, commander, and lieutenant. Most recently, before becoming the acting police chief, Thurmond was executive assistant to the deputy chief of the Investigative Bureau.
“I am honored that Mayor Woodfin has put his trust in me. This was not something that I sought out. I have simply just wanted to serve and protect the great people of Birmingham with excellence and compassion. This platform will allow me to partner with our brave officers in helping to create a safe Birmingham for all. I look forward to serving,” Thurmond said in a statement.
Thurmond said the department is focused on three things right now: continuing to work with federal law enforcement to combat gun violence, recruitment and retention within the department, and security around the upcoming World Games.
The new chief will be able to utilize more funds, an increase of $18 million, in the upcoming fiscal year to fight these issues, if the Birmingham City Council approves the budget this month.
“I’m looking forward to fighting crime in our city,” Thurmond said.”I look forward to bringing the Birmingham Police Department to the forefront of law enforcement and just making the City of Birmingham a better place for all of our residents who currently live here,”
His appointment is effective June 24th. Thurmond succeeds Patrick Smith who announced his resignation as police chief in January citing personal matters.
HBO’s new Billy Joel documentary is revelatory — even if it pulls some punches
The new two-part documentary, which premieres Friday on HBO, is a good example of the tension between access and objectivity that filmmakers face in making documentaries on celebrities.
A wildfire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge. It burned down once before
The Grand Canyon Lodge is the only hotel on the park's North Rim, which is closed for the rest of the season due to wildfire risk. The hotel was already rebuilt once, after a kitchen fire in 1932.
Why the Federal Reserve’s building renovations are attracting the White House’s ire
The Fed's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation is attracting mounting criticism from the Trump administration, which had been already attacking the central bank for not cutting interest rates.
Supreme Court says Trump’s efforts to close the Education Department can continue
The Trump administration had appealed a decision that had directed it to stop gutting the U.S. Education Department and to reinstate many of the workers the government had laid off.
24 states sue Trump admin to unfreeze more than $6 billion in education grants
The lawsuit comes two weeks after the Trump administration first notified states it was withholding previously approved funds for migrant education, before- and after- school programs and more.
Where to start? This week’s new releases are an all-you-can-read buffet
This week, new horror from Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a funny college do-over from Jeneva Rose, and autofiction from Hannah Pittard. Plus, stories about the American South, and a deep dive into the Earth.