16 coalition groups call on Randall Woodfin to take action on ‘trust and public safety’ order
On Tuesday, the Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Alabama), the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, and Adelante Alabama Workers Center, which unites day laborers, domestic workers, and other low-wage and immigrant workers and their families in the Birmingham area, along with other coalition partners, faith and civic leaders, met outside of the Birmingham City Hall where they called on Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to honor his commitment to be on the front lines of resistance to President Donald Trump‘s polices. There they endeavored to hold the Mayor to the progressive mandate he was elected on by calling him to take action on the proposed “Trust and Public Safety” order. The order would prevent Birmingham from expending its own local resources on enforcing federal immigration policies. In addition to saving the city money, this policy would also promote trust in local law enforcement and protect public safety for all residents, regardless of immigration status. It does not interfere with any state or federal laws. CAIR-Alabama and Adelante met with Mayor Woodfin back in April to discuss this proposal, but after months of delays from the city, they two came together with their coalition partner organizations to ask Woodfin to take action. “We have been working with the Mayor on this proposal for months, but with the federal administration’s harsh enforcement of a ‘zero-tolerance’ immigration policy we’ve begun to see fear and anxiety reflected in our communities,” said Ali Massoud, CAIR-Alabama Government Affairs Coordinator. “The Mayor has expressed ample support for marginalized black and brown populations, and now we are asking him to keep his promises and pass this executive order.” He added, “Birmingham has a robust immigrant population, but this executive order isn’t just for them, it’s for everyone. Passing the ‘Trust and Public Safety’ order promotes trust between communities of color and local law enforcement, making the city safer for all of us.” Addressing the Mayor directly, Cesar Mata, Adelante Alabama Worker Center Volunteer said, “My community does not want to live in fear. We do not want to continue to suffer family separation. Our community wants to feel safe when we talk to the police. We need an official policy from the City of Birmingham that will protect all families. The “Fostering Trust and Promoting Public Safety and Civli Rights for All City Residents” executive order can help you keep the promise you made to keep us safe. We know Birmingham can do what is right. Mr. Mayor, you can decide what side of history you are on. All of Birmingham’s citizens still believe in you.” The following groups and organizations spoke at the event: Adelante Alabama Worker Center CAIR-Alabama Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice Black Lives Matter Birmingham Faith in Action Alabama La Casita Greater Birmingham Ministries National Lawyers Guild Southern Poverty Law Center NAACP of Alabama Southerners On New Ground Watch the event be live-streamed (previously recorded) below:
Randall Woodfin writes Pennsylvania mayor over ‘misrepresentation’ of 1963 protests
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin penned a letter to Arnold, Pa. Mayor Karen Peconi on Thursday expressing his concerns over what he called her “deliberate misrepresentation” of the 1963 civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham. Peconi came under fire after her controversial Facebook post during the public protests in Pittsburgh following the death of Antwon Rose — a 17 year-old African-American man shot and killed by a police officer in Pittsburgh in June. The officer has since been charged with criminal homicide and awaits trial. According to TRIB live, Peconi posted a video of protestors being knocked down by water cannons during the during the civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham and suggested that law enforcement use the same method on the Antwon Rose protestors. Saying “I’m posting this so the authorities everywhere sees this… I agree with Tom.. bring the hoses,” The Root reported. “They don’t care about Pgh. none of them work now.. That’s how they can do this at 7am…. very sad.” After learning of Peconi’s comments, Woodfin wrote an open letter her in an effort to encourage “constructive reflection,” on her part. “I am writing as the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, because you posted and commented on a photograph taken during the civil rights demonstrations that took place in our city in 1963, in a way that completely misrepresented the purpose and meaning of those historic events,” Woodfin wrote. “Those demonstrations — and the oppressive manner in which our city government of the time chose to respond to them — raised the consciousness of Americans to the injustices being protested. They brought about the end of segregation in Birmingham and played a large role in paving the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.” “Today, we in Birmingham take tremendous pride in our city’s role in advancing the causes of justice and equality for all Americans,” Woodfin continued. “And, even as we recognize the distance our nation, more than a half-century later, still has to travel along that road, we take pride in Birmingham’s progress and our ongoing emergence as a city of growth and opportunity for all. We honor our past and proudly and actively commemorate the history that was made in our streets — but our eyes and our actions are fixed firmly on the future.” You can read Woodfin’s full letter here. Peconi apologized for her actions in a statement, saying “I love this community. I would do anything for the people here. I don’t take my position as Mayor lightly and deeply regret the comments I made on Facebook. It was never my intention to offend anyone, and for those who I offended I am sincerely sorry,” according to Trib Live.
Randall Woodfin delivers another campaign promise, increases administration’s transparency
In a day and age where political candidates across the country espouse the importance of transparency, very few actually follow through with their ideas when they get in office. During his campaign for mayor Randall Woodfin made a bevy of promises to the people of Birmingham to revitalize the city and help restore trust in local government. Many of the promises he said he would accomplish within his first 100 days in office. While he missed the mark on completing them all within the first 100 days, he’s still following through and completing his many promises. On Tuesday, the Mayor’s office announced the completion of another campaign promise to promote transparency and accountability by introducing the Open Checkbook portal on the city’s website. The Open Checkbook documents Birmingham’s budgeting and expenditures dating back to fiscal year 2009. The portal consists of nearly a million pieces of data per fiscal year. “The Open Checkbook portal is helping us uphold our campaign promise of a transparent government,” Woodfin said. “I encourage everyone to visit the portal and see exactly how we’re directing our resources to make Birmingham stronger.” Visitors can view four separate reports: The Annual Report provides the amount of money allocated to each department in the City of Birmingham for each fiscal year. The Budget to Actual Report shows the money budgeted for each department and how much money was spent on each department for every fiscal year. Neighborhood Allocations allows visitors to view all money allocated to each neighborhood association for all 99 neighborhoods. Transaction Report details all individual transactions made from each department, with detailed descriptions. To access the portal, visit birminghamal.gov. Find the Open Data portal on the top menu bar, then click Transparency.
Shipt commits to staying in Birmingham, adding 881 jobs
The booming Birmingham founded business, Shipt announced Thursday that they will be keeping their headquarters in the Magic City, adding 881 new jobs in the area within the next few years. “Shipt was founded and has flourished in Birmingham, and we would not have reached the success we have today without the continued support of this community,” CEO Bill Smith said. “As a rapidly growing technology company, we feel fortunate to be able to offer an avenue for creating highly skilled jobs within Birmingham. Tuesday night the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved a new incentives package under which the company must not only add jobs, but also implement the City’s newly developed Talent Investment Program (TIP), Talent Acceleration Program (TAP), and Talent Optimization Program (TOP) as part of the incentives package. The City will provide incentives of up to $1,762,000.00, payable over a term of up to five years on the basis of $2,000.00 per each new employee, with such funding to be used by Shipt, Inc. as reimbursement for the cost of implementing TIP, TAP and TOP. “With this development package, we’ll be able to deepen our roots in our hometown, helping establish Birmingham as a center of technology and innovation not only in the South, but also within the United States,” Smith continued. Shipt already employs over 300 people in the Birmingham area – not including it’s shoppers. The 881 new jobs will be highly-skilled, highly paid positions, mostly in high-tech functions including software development and data processing. Smith said the company expects to add 50,000 shoppers by the end of the year, bringing the total number of shoppers up to 100,000. “Shipt represents the innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that is defining a new generation of builders in Birmingham, and we are proud that Shipt calls our city home,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. Governor Kay Ivey joined executives at Shipt headquarters in Birmingham for the announcement; “By simplifying life with innovative technology for personalized grocery delivery, Shipt is positioned for rapid growth,” Ivey said. “The ideal location for this growth is its hometown of Birmingham, and we’re committed to helping the company develop and attract the talent it needs to fuel its expansion plans in Alabama’s ‘Magic City.’” Woodfin posted a video of the announcement Thursday morning on Facebook. Watch the announcement by Kay Ivey below:
Patrick Smith takes command as Birmingham’s new police chief
Patrick Smith took office June 25 as Birmingham’s new police chief, and among his belongings is an envelope he’s carried since the start of his law enforcement career 28 years ago. When Smith joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1990, his mother gave him a sheet of paper and asked him to write his goal for the future. He wrote four words: “Chief of Police, Birmingham.” “I kept that piece of paper in an envelope for the duration of my career,” Smith said in a recent interview with the Birmingham Times. “When I received the call from (Mayor Randall Woodfin about) becoming chief of police in Birmingham, it was a very emotional moment because I pointed to the heavens and said, ‘I told you, Mom, we could do it.’” Smith’s mother, Dorothy, died seven years ago, but she would be proud of her son — a veteran LAPD administrator who is now police chief for Alabama’s largest city. After a five-month search, Woodfin announced June 4 that Smith would serve as chief of the Birmingham Police Department. Smith, 54, a Tuscaloosa native, is taking over during a time when homicides and some violent crimes have increased in Birmingham, and residents and city leaders want something done. “I love the city, but I would like for there to be better police protection when stuff goes on,” said Prude Fuller, president of the Airport Highlands Neighborhood Association. “I think that’s very important because there’s too much crime … in the city in general.” Smith has heard from residents and read up on Birmingham, and he is aware that crime stats will be watched closely during his tenure. He doesn’t want anyone to expect an overnight fix, though. Top priority “The biggest thing I see for the BPD is hiring, recruitment and retention,” Smith said. We can’t do anything until we … get the right people on the job. Currently, we have more than 100 vacancies. That affects the number of people who are out on patrol, who are addressing calls. We need to address the basic services (such as 911 calls) before we do everything else. That’s going to be one of my primary focuses because (we need to have the right) people to address crime.” Smith knows he must also get out among the residents in Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods and 23 communities. Birmingham City Council President Valerie Abbott said, “I would advise (Smith) to meet with the (23) communities and hear what they have to say. “(All) 99 neighborhoods would be too many to meet with, but the people who actually live in the neighborhoods know what the problems are.” That’s part of his mission, Smith said: “I plan to learn the 23 communities and 99 neighborhoods within the city because each one has to have a different formula for what will work. Law enforcement is not one-size-fits-all. I’m not coming into Birmingham thinking I know everything about the city and everything that’s going on.” Alabama native “Growing up the youngest of 13 was a very interesting experience,” he said. “You learn different roles. You learn to be a negotiator. You learn to be a collaborator. You learn to work with your family as a team. You learn how to resolve problems. I think all of those are important and effective tools in law enforcement.”Smith was born and raised in Tuscaloosa and attended Central High School. He is the youngest of 13 siblings, which in some ways helped prepare him for his career. He remembers watching cop shows when he was younger, including “The Mod Squad” with the supercool Clarence Williams III as Lincoln “Linc” Hayes, described by Smith as a “very dynamic character.” “Just the fact that they were working kind of a quasi-undercover assignment, I found that interesting,” Smith said of the TV crime drama that aired from 1968 to 1973. Family ties Smith’s upbringing — with his mother, Dorothy, a Head Start teacher, and his father, Jasper, a longtime worker at Tuscaloosa’s Central Foundry — has always been his strongest influence. His parents “were both down-to-earth, genuine people,” Smith said. “They kept a close-knit family. In fact, my family still has dinner together every Sunday after church. When my mother passed away, we were able to track her membership at our family church back 53 years. Just coming back here and being able to return to (First African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa), which my mother … and entire family attended for many, many years, is a blessing within itself.” Smith’s law enforcement career came into focus when he joined the military. He served seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps, completing his basic training at Parris Island, S.C. And he made stops at Camp Pendleton in California, as well as in Okinawa, Japan; Fuji, Japan; and the Philippines. “One of the things I did while traveling extensively was learn different cultures, different people, and different environments … just learn about people,” Smith said. “I think it has been extremely important because (it taught me) to respect different cultures and different people, how they were brought up, and the things that are important to them.” How does that apply to the duties of a police officer? “I can take someone to jail, but I don’t have to disrespect them as a person,” he said. “I can bring them in for what they’ve done, and they can be held accountable through the criminal justice system. But as an individual officer, as an individual person, it’s always important to treat (people) with dignity and respect regardless of what they’ve done.” LAPD In Los Angeles, Smith worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a patrol officer, then becoming a police field-training officer and instructor, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Most recently, since 2015, he served as a police commander. Transitioning from a large city like Los Angeles to a smaller one like Birmingham can be a culture shock. LA has a population of nearly four million, and the LAPD has approximately 9,000 sworn officers and 3,000 civilian employees. Birmingham has
Alabama politicians, groups react to Supreme Court decision on Donald Trump’s travel ban
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of the Trump Administration’s travel ban, which prohibits travel from seven countries: Libya, Syria, North Korea, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Venezuela. In a 5-4 decision, the court reversed an injunction that had — until December 2017 — prevented the Trump administration from using the Travel Ban 3.0 as a basis for denying visas to foreign nationals from the affected countries. Here are their reactions (in order received/seen online): Terry Lathan | Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) The Constitution has clearly given a president the authority to implement executive orders. The travel ban pertaining to several countries was in that scope. This is not a policy on discrimination- it is a policy on the security of our nation. Chief Justice John Roberts was correct when he authored that the ruling was ‘squarely within the scope of presidential authority’ under our federal laws. We applaud the Supreme Court’s decision on this matter. Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers: I was thrilled today to see the Supreme Court uphold President Trump’s travel ban. It is a huge win for the safety of the American people and our national security. President Trump is exactly right that we must fully vet people from these countries before even considering to allow them into the United States. Keeping Americans safe is one of the highest duties of the government and this was absolutely the right decision. Alabama 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks: I applaud the Supreme Court for finding that President Trump has authority to take such actions as are necessary to protect American lives from terrorism risks. America is safer as a result. The President’s legal authority on immigration and national security in this instance is clear. The liberal, judicially activist 9th Circuit, the most error-prone and reversed circuit court of appeal, unnecessarily put American lives at risk when it undermined the President’s Constitutional authority to protect Americans. I am pleased the Supreme Court overturned the 9th Circuit’s liberal, activist, and unconstitutional overreach. I fully supported President Trump when he issued the Travel Order Proclamation and I fully support the President’s continued actions to protect American lives. Today’s decision is a win for the Rule of Law. Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell: Today’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the Muslim travel ban takes our country in the wrong direction. America was built on the promise of freedom and opportunity for immigrants of all backgrounds, regardless of religion. Trump’s own statements on the purpose of his Muslim ban are evidence of the religious discrimination that his Muslim ban is founded on. While the President has authority to protect our national security, promoting blatant religious discrimination only undermines our interests abroad and our security at home. Trump’s Muslim ban does not make our country safer. Instead, it weakens our fight against terror by handing extremists a tool for recruitment and alienating Muslim partners around the globe. Additionally, the ban robs our nation of the economic input of immigrants, who are business owners, community leaders, students, and workers in our communities. Policies that discourage foreign investments in and partnerships with our country should be rejected by all who care about the long-term standing of the United States as a global leader. It is time for this Congress to hold the Trump Administration accountable for its dangerous, anti-family, anti-immigrant policies. CAIR-Alabama | Executive Director Khaula Hadeed Today’s decision deeply impacts Muslim communities and communities of color. This is not the first time the Court has been wrong on a decision. In Korematsu the Court permitted the incarceration of thousands of people based on their Japanese ancestry. In this case, Trump set out to ban Muslims from entering the country and the Court permitted him to do so. This decision empowers the president and future administrations to discriminate on the basis of religion. Randall Woodfin | Mayor of Birmingham America was founded by immigrants. It was built by immigrants. Yet the Supreme Court’s travel ban ruling undermines an entire group of people based on their religious beliefs. This is not who we are. America was built on the idea that people from all walks of life could come together and live in harmony. President Trump’s statements over the past few years demonstrate purposeful intent to deny our Muslim brothers and sisters the rights enjoyed by everyone within our borders. Birmingham taught the world the meaning of equality and tolerance. This is not it.
Birmingham City Council unanimously approves $436 million budget
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the city’s 2019 operating budget with an 8-0 vote. District 1 Councilwoman Lashunda Scales was not present for the vote. The City Council unanimously passes the FY 2018-2019 City Budget. — Bham City Council (@citycouncilbham) June 19, 2018 The $436 million budget will go into effect July 1. The budget comes in $8 million bigger than last year’s budget, due to revenue growth from the use and occupational taxes. “Passing a budget on time is important not just to our citizens, but also for all the city departments that provide services to the public,” Council President Valerie Abbott said. “I think this budget was a good compromise. In government, you have limited resources and unlimited needs. By passing this budget unanimously today it shows that the Council and Mayor recognize we are in this together and we want to get things done.” Following the budget’s approval, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said he was encouraged by the cooperation of the Council throughout the budget process. “For me it is about taking the time to understand each Councilor’s request,” Woodfin said. “We wanted to make sure we incorporated a majority of wants and needs. We’re not able to get everything for everyone, but for the most part I think we accomplished that.”
Birmingham pro-stoner group organizing largest public smoke-out ever
It’s certainly not the sort of protest you typically hear about — a group in Birmingham is calling on local stoners to show up for what they’re hoping will be the largest “smoke-out” ever. Organized by the Decriminalize Bham Action Committee, the smoke-out is calling on marijuana smokers to publicly light up their joints in an effort to start a conversation with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin about decriminalizing cannabis in the Magic City. Scheduled for Tuesday, July 17 the smoke-out will take place at a yet-to-be-named location. “Each year, thousands of innocent men and women are arrested and incarcerated for low level cannabis possession,” posted local activist Carlos Chaverst Jr., one of the event’s organizers on Facebook. “We are asking Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to join other cities across the country by decriminalizing cannabis within the Birmingham city limits.” According to a video Chaverst Jr. posted on Facebook, he’s in talks with the mayor’s office about the issue. He also said he’s personally texted the mayor about the event, but has not heard back. Chaverst Jr. says decriminalizing cannabis will help reduce the number of non-violent offenders in jails. “[Decriminalizing cannabis] will reduce the number of non-violent offenders, keep our jails and prisons from overcrowding and increases stability within the local economy,” he added. Watch Chaverst Jr. talk about the event below:
Randall Woodfin pledges to transition Birmingham to 100% sustainable energy
It was just announced that in March of this year, Mayor Randall Woodfin signed a pledge to shift to 100 percent sustainable energy during his tenure as mayor. The pledge, “Mayors for 100% Sustainable Energy Pledge,” which is being pushed by Gasp — the Greater Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution — is part of the organization’s Alabama Cities for Sustainable Energy campaign. The pledge also includes a draft resolution for town councils to use to craft their own pro-renewable energy policies. Birmingham City Council has yet to adopt such a resolution. The pledge asks mayors to affirm the following: I believe sustainable energy is good for the City of [fill in the blank] and the State of Alabama because it will create economic development opportunities and job. I believe sustainable energy will help the City of [fill in the blank] and the State of Alabama become a more just and equitable place to live, work, and learn. I believe the overwhelming scientific consensus of anthropogenic climate change and that it is an urgent global challenge. I believe that local, community-focused solutions are essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I believe that it is important for the City of [fill in the blank] to transition away from dirty fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency, solar, wind, and pollution-free electric public transportation. Birmingham isn’t the only American city endeavoring to go green. Over 200 mayors have signed a similar pledge pushed by the Sierra Club. While very few have actually followed through on the promise to go 100% green, others have tried and failed. Not included in budget Woodfin signed the pledge on March 14 — the day before the new mayor commemorated his first 100 days in office by presenting The Woodfin Way, his 2018 mayoral transition report. That report included a commitment to invest in renewable energy, as well as with several other recommendations for environmental justice and sustainability projects. Environmental Justice and Sustainability– North Birmingham is ranked number five on the National Priorities List distributed by the EPA. Due to decades of environmental pollution, many communities have suffered. The EPA has chosen North Birmingham as a Superfund site, but it’s up to the city to take ownership over these initiatives. The city must not only revitalize neighborhoods that have been harmed, but also take stock in the sustainability of our environmental future. The goal of the Environmental Justice and Sustainability subcommittee is ensuring the city’s investment in our future by proposing initiatives that address brownfields and pollution, maintenance of parks and green spaces, storm water mitigation and sustainability efforts like recycling, renewable energy, and residential weatherization that saves Birmingham citizens money on energy and creates jobs Nevertheless when Woodfin presented his budget to the City Council in late April, there was no mention about funding for a transition to renewable energy. Alabama Today has previously reported that Alabama Power Company continues to grow its renewables portfolio, with energy coming into the state from wind, solar and hydropower. It is unclear how Woodfin intends to implement the promises of his pledge. Perhaps with the help of Alabama Power Company.
Randall Woodfin names Josh Coleman as Birmingham’s first LGBTQ liaison
It may be outside of his first 100 days, but Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is making good on yet another 100 days campaign promise: to hire an LGBT liaison to serve on my executive staff. On Sunday, Woodfin named Josh Coleman during the city’s PRIDE FEST event at Sloss Furnaces. “From our administration’s standpoint, when we watch what’s happening in our country, when we watch what’s happening at the state level, I think it’s important that municipal governments, local governments, play an active role in making sure that we’re not discriminating, that we fight against discrimination,” said Woodfin. As LGBTQ liaison, Coleman will build upon the relationship between the LGBTQ community and the City of Birmingham by focusing on the public safety of the LGBTQ communities, and by helping to prevent LGBTQ discrimination in our city wherever it may exist. Coleman currently serves as is vice president of Central Alabama Pride, a nonprofit focused on celebrating pride and diversity in Central Alabama. He also serves as the National Committeeman with the Alabama Young Democrats and is an Advisor of the Alabama Young Democrats’ LGBT caucus. Coleman also serves on the board of directors for Central Alabama Pride and the Greater Birmingham Democrats. Since 2008 Josh has served on the board of several non-profits, worked on a variety of political campaigns, and as Alabama’s volunteer coordinator for Hillary Clinton‘s 2016 presidential campaign. “It really is an honor to serve in this position, and have a mayor interested in making sure that all of its residents are represented,” said Coleman. “This is the next step in Mayor Woodfin’s commitment to having an open, fair and inclusive city.” In his new role, which begins June 25, Coleman Watch Woodfin make the announcement below:
Randall Woodfin celebrates pro-football franchise coming to Birmingham
Birmingham, Ala. will soon be the new home of a new, yet-to-be-named professional football team franchise. The Alliance of American Football (AAF) announced the decision on Monday to include Birmingham as part of a new eight-team league, which will start a twelve-week season starting in February of 2019, culminating in a championship game in April of 2019. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin shared his excitement over the announcement via Facebook by sharing a video of Mike Vick welcoming the city to the alliance. “Welcome to Birmingham AAF! Excited to hit the field with you! #AllianceBirmingham.,” Woodfin posted. Other teams in the league include: Atlanta, Memphis, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego and Salt Lake City. The Birmingham team will play its first two seasons at legion field, then move to the new stadium planned for the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC), according to the Birmingham Business Journal. A head coach has not been selected for the team, but the league is expected to make further announcements later this week regarding all the details of the team. With a pro-football team coming to the city, the controversial decision made by the Birmingham City Council in March to invest $90 million over the next 30 years to renovate the BJCC and construct of a new downtown stadium, doesn’t look so terrible. However, Birmingham has experienced problems in the past, of getting professional football leagues to hold. The city has been home to several leagues over the past 20 years, and while many developed a notable fan base in the area, the teams “ultimately couldn’t overcome financial or other challenges that come with trying to compete in the shadow of the NFL and college football,” according to the Birmingham Business Journal.
Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin taps Patrick Smith as new police chief
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin named Patrick Smith, a former Commander in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as the new chief of police for the city during a press conference Monday afternoon. Smith, a Tuscaloosa-native, has more than 27 years law enforcement experience. He began working for the LAPD in 1990 as as officer. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 20017, and in 2010 was promoted to Captain. Most recently in 2015 he was promoted to Commander of the Police Sciences and Training Bureau where he oversaw all aspects of police training for the LAPD from recruit training to in-service training for tenured officers Shortly after the announcement, the Birmingham Police Department tweeted their welcome to the new chief. “Welcome aboard Chief Patrick D. Smith. We look forward to your leadership!” the department tweeted. Welcome aboard Chief Patrick D. Smith. We look forward to your leadership! pic.twitter.com/ScAgdF1SxU — Birmingham Police (@BhamPolice) June 4, 2018 The search for the Magic City’s new police chief began back in February with the city collecting applications from Feb. 1 to March 9. More than 50 candidates – both locally and across the nation – applied for the position. Those applicants were winnowed down to 11 finalists were invited to take part in an assessment process on March 19. There, participants were asked to handle a series of realistic leadership situations. Once those candidates completed the assessment process, a detailed review of their performance was conducted and the three finalists were selected, which Woodfin interviewed himself last month. Shortly State Rep. Allen Treadway, a veteran of the Birmingham Police Department, was named assistant chief. Watch Woodfin’s announcement below:
