Birmingham Police Department
Birmingham’s first Black police officer has died
Leroy Stover became an officer in March 1966 at 33 years old and moved up the ranks. By 1992, he was promoted to deputy chief in charge of field operations.
Police remove suspicious backpack from near a Birmingham synagogue
Authorities said the bag was a credible threat although it did not contain an explosive. The incident came on the heels of threats against synagogues in New Jersey.
Birmingham City Council passes Woodfin’s budget untouched
Police, public works and youth programs were the biggest winners in the $517 million budget, the largest ever for the city.
Scott Thurmond named Birmingham Police Chief
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced Thurmond’s appointment as police chief Thursday. Thurmond succeeds Patrick Smith who announced his resignation as police chief in January citing personal matters.
One year later, where is the Birmingham Civilian Review Board?
A year ago, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the launch of the Birmingham Civilian Review Board to offer independent accountability for police. But the board doesn't seem to be active.
How many people died in homicides in Birmingham in 2021? It’s not clear
Tracking Birmingham's homicides for 2021 should have been straightforward. Here's why it wasn't.
How Birmingham’s Police Chief Plans To Slow The City’s Homicide Rate
Birmingham finished 2020 with a 25-year high in homicides. This year shows no sign of that slowing. WBHM talked with the city's police chief about how he plans to respond.
City Council Approves Bid For Birmingham Real-Time Crime Center
The city of Birmingham's 'real-time crime center' is coming to life thanks to the city council's approval of a nearly $1 million construction bid.
Birmingham Police Stations Offer Safe Place To Exchange Online Purchases
The comments from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin comes after a UAB student was shot and killed during a transaction arranged online.
Birmingham Police Need The Public’s Help In Solving Homicides, Woodfin Says
The overall crime rate in Birmingham went down compared to last year, but the city’s murder rate increased 13 percent in 2020, according to data from the Birmingham Police Department.
Predictable Prejudice: Predictive Policing Software Promises Unbiased Crime-Fighting, But Can It Deliver?
Predictive policing software programs such as PredPol was adopted by the Homewood Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in 2016 and Birmingham Police Department in 2019.
Birmingham Officials Reject Defunding, But Plan Police Reforms With Civilian Oversight
The city of Birmingham’s Public Safety Task Force released a report Thursday morning that outlines four areas that the city can improve on.
Dogs, Firehoses Were A Precursor To Today’s Violent Protests
“You will never be Christ, but that doesn’t mean that you stop pursuing that Christ-like behavior. What we have to do is be in relentless pursuit of having a positive relationship with the community we serve," said Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith.
First Police Review Finds BPD Is “Doing Pretty Good,” Woodfin Says, Ends With Explicit Ban On Chokeholds
Mayor Randall Woodfin says there is still room for improvement in the Birmingham Police Department. This comes after a 30 day internal review.
Birmingham Conducting Review Of Police Department Procedures, Could Make Changes To Operate In Post-George Floyd World
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says his office will conduct a comprehensive internal review of the city’s police department.
Protesters Ask Birmingham Council To ‘Defund The Police’
Protesters are asking the Birmingham City Council to defund the city's police department by reallocating $150,000 from the department's ammunition budget.
Crime Slows As People Shelter From Coronavirus
Crime isn’t taking a coronavirus holiday, but law enforcement statistics show it headed in a positive direction as more people shelter from the pandemic.
Paighton Houston’s Remains Found In Hueytown
Authorities identified a body found behind a house in Hueytown Thursday as that of Paighton Houston, according to Trussville Detective Ben Short.
Woodfin Touts Neighborhood Revitalization Work, Cuts in Crime Rates in Update on his Administration’s Progress
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin marked the halfway point of his first term in office Tuesday evening with a presentation highlighting his administration’s accomplishments and broadly gesturing toward his plans for the next two years.
Two Charged in Death of 3-Year-Old Kamille McKinney
Patrick Devone Stallworth and Derick Irisha Brown were charged with capital murder Thursday in the death of 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney.
Birmingham PD Adds High-Tech Tools To Its Crime-Fighting Arsenal
The Birmingham Police Department will soon have two new high-tech crime-fighting tools at its disposal.
The Big Picture: Woodfin’s Team Updates Residents About Progress on Public Safety, Economic Opportunities and Other Initiatives
A black-and-white photo of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin — shot in profile, eyes fixed in an expression of steely determination — hovered over the stage of the Alabama School of Fine Arts’ Dorothy Jemison Day Theater on Thursday night.
Birmingham Police Arrest Man Suspected of Killing Police Sergeant
The man suspected of killing Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter last month was arrested Thursday as he was released from rehab.
Woodfin Mournful but Optimistic in His Second State of the Community Address
Following a tragic week for Birmingham, Mayor Randall Woodfin delivered his second State of the Community address Monday night. His speech was equal parts elegiac and hopeful, addressing the death of former Mayor Larry Langford and the murder of Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter while casting an optimistic eye toward the future.
Birmingham Police Face Biggest Backlog in Sexual Assault Kits Not Submitted for Analysis
Rhiannon Reese of Crisis Center Birmingham says she doesn’t want to play the blame game about sexual assault kits not submitted for analysis to Alabama’s forensic lab.
Crime Reduction Plan for Birmingham Coming Next Month
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.
Birmingham Mayor Releases Strategic Plan Setting New Goals for His First Term
Exactly one year after his election, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has released a strategic plan providing an update on his administration’s progress and setting new goals for the remainder of his first term.
A Deadly Week: September Homicides Could Foreshadow Record Year in Birmingham
Six homicides happened in Birmingham during the first week of September, putting the city firmly on track for its most violent year in more than two decades and pressuring city leaders to improve their strategies for responding to such incidents and to focus on preventing them.
Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Nick Patterson from the weekly newspaper Weld reports on an effort to stop the cycle of abuse and domestic violence in Birmingham and north-central Alabama.
A Bridge Between Police and Teens
This summer has seen headline after headline of violent encounters between people of color and law enforcement. In some cases, officers shot and killed black men. In others, police were the target of bullets. Now a Birmingham organization is trying to create a bridge between police and teens.
The Junction: We Won’t Be Next
After police shootings and racially-charged murders this month, the national conversation is once again focused on the fraught relationship between police and black communities. To address these tensions, The Birmingham City Council recently hosted a forum in Ensley called “We Won’t Be Next.” Rachel Osier Lindley brings us the latest in our series, The Junction: […]
Birmingham Reacts to a Week of Violence with Marches, Rallies and Hope
The nation is still reeling from a string of violence last week, including the deaths of two black men, shot by the police, and the killings of five Dallas police officers during a peaceful protest. For more on the reaction from Birmingham, we’re joined by Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper WELD. He spoke to WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley.
