Birmingham names new police chief

After a four month wait, Birmingham has a new police chief. Tuesday morning, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced that interim chief Michael Pickett is taking on the role permanently. 

Woodfin said he asked himself three questions before appointing Pickett to the position.

“Can I trust you? Are you committed? And do you care?” Woodfin said. “I trust Michael Pickett.”

Woodfin added that Pickett has demonstrated his commitment to and care for the city over the last few months through his hands-on approach to policing and crime response. 

As Pickett takes the helm, Birmingham is fresh off a record breaking year of homicides, including a mass shooting in the city’s Five Points South neighborhood But over the last several months, Pickett kick-started an eight-point crime reduction plan and a special enforcement team that has made hundreds of arrests and seizures of illegal firearms. City officials report homicides in the city are down 47% from the same time last year. 

“It’s an absolute honor and a privilege to serve the community that I grew up in,” Pickett said. “ I look forward to working alongside our officers and the folks in our community to make Birmingham safer.”

Pickett took over leadership of the department as interim chief on Nov. 29 after former police chief Scott Thurmond retired. Pickett spent the last 20 years serving with the Birmingham department in a career that included undercover work, oversight of the World Games and taking on the role of Deputy Chief of Special Operations. 

“Chief Pickett has shown that he is not only committed to the men and women to his left and right who he has served with, but he’s also committed to this community,” Woodfin said. “I think, without question, he absolutely cares.”

When asked what his proudest moment of his career was, Pickett said becoming chief of police tops the list. 

“This moment is not just about me,” Pickett said. “It’s about our city, our officers, and the community that we serve. Birmingham deserves a police department that is proactive, professional and people-focused. I’m excited about the direction that we’re going.”