3 months ago
2
IMPACT OFFICER TURNOVER DID A LOT OF TRAINING, A LOT OF GOOD TRAINING. I SAID BIRMINGHAM WAS A VERY GOOD PLACE FOR ME. ROBERT REYES CAME TO WORK FOR BIRMINGHAM PD IN 2014 WHEN HOMICIDES WERE A THIRD OF WHAT THEY ARE NOW. BUT OVER THE YEARS, HE NOTICED A SHIFT IN LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP FOR JUST A LEADERSHIP CHANGE. MAN, IT JUST WENT FROM HERE TO HERE TO HERE. JUST KEPT GOING. AND IT NEVER HIT THAT POINT WHERE IT WAS ALWAYS GOOD. SO WHEN 2023, REYES LEFT THE DEPARTMENT, IN ADDITION TO LEADERSHIP, HE CITED A HANDFUL OF OTHER FACTORS WHICH MOTIVATED HIM TO MOVE ON. TRYING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE PAY. TRYING TO GET BETTER BENEFITS FOR MY FAMILY. TRYING TO GET OFF OF THE STREET. PER SE. TO GET AWAY FROM THE VIOLENCE. LAST WEEK, THE CITY CONFIRMED IT WAS DOWN 223 OFFICERS. THAT’S A FOURTH OF ITS CRIME FIGHTING FORCE. REYES BELIEVES UNFULFILLED PROMISES PROMPTED SOME OF HIS FORMER BIRMINGHAM PARTNERS TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. Y’ALL GOING TO GET A RAISE? Y’ALL GONNA GET A RAISE. KEEP HEARING THAT STUFF YEAR AND YEAR AND YEAR. AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU START TO GET FRUSTRATED. THEN YESTERDAY, BIRMINGHAM APPROVED A NEW OFFICER RECRUITMENT PLAN. IT INCLUDES 10,000 SIGN ON AND RETENTION BONUSES, PLUS A TAKE HOME VEHICLE PROGRAM FOR SELECT OFFICERS. DO YOU THINK THIS PLAN WILL HELP FIX THE PROBLEM? FIXING THE PROBLEM? NOT ALL THE WAY, BUT HELPING TO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. YES, THAT STUFF THAT’S IN THAT PLAN HAS BEEN LACKING FOR A LONG TIME. I MEAN, AND YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO BE THE POLICE ANYMORE. INCENTIVES. HE SAYS, ARE KEY TO KEEPING MORE CRIME FIGHTERS FROM SEEKING GREENER GRASS. IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. REYES ALSO SAYS WHILE IT’S NICE TO SEE THIS RECRUITMENT PLAN OFFER TAKE HOME VEHICLES FOR OFFICERS, HE DOES NOT FEEL THE CITY SHOULD LIMIT IT TO OFFICERS ONLY. LIVING IN BIRMINGHAM. HE ALSO BELIEVES BOOSTING SALARIES ACROSS THE BOARD WO
'You start to get frustrated': Former BPD officer cites leadership, unfulfilled promises for staffing gap
Robert Reyes came to work for the Birmingham Police Department in 2014, when the city recorded about a third of the homicides as it does now.Then, over the years, he noticed a shift in leadership at the top.“As far as the leadership change, man, it just went from here to here to here. Just kept going. And it never hit that point where it was always good,” Reyes said.So, in 2023, Reyes left the department.In addition to leadership, he cited a handful of other factors which motivated him to move on.“Trying to get a little bit more pay, try to get better benefits for my family, trying to get off on the street per se, to get away from the violence,” Reyes said.Last week, the city confirmed it was down 223 officers.That is a fourth of its total budgeted crime-fighting force.Reyes believes unfulfilled promises prompted some of his former Birmingham partners to look elsewhere. “Y'all going to get a raise. Y'all will get a raise. Keep hearing this stuff year in, year, year. And then nothing happens. You start to get frustrated,” he said.Then, on Tuesday, Birmingham approved a new officer recruitment plan.It includes $10,000 sign-on and retention bonuses, plus a take-home vehicle program for select officers. We asked Reyes if he felt the plan would fix the problem. “Not all the way, but helping to. To fix the problem. Yes. That stuff that's in that plan has been lacking for a long time,” he said.Reyes currently works for the state as a parole officer, where he clocks out at 5 p.m. every day and gets Friday to Sunday off to spend with his family.He said that is a work-life balance the responsibilities of an East Precinct patrol officer do not offer. Reyes added that while it's nice to see this recruitment plan offers take-home vehicles, he does not feel the city should limit it to officers living in Birmingham.He also believes boosting salaries across the board would go a long way to narrow the staffing gap.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Robert Reyes came to work for the Birmingham Police Department in 2014, when the city recorded about a third of the homicides as it does now.
Then, over the years, he noticed a shift in leadership at the top.
“As far as the leadership change, man, it just went from here to here to here. Just kept going. And it never hit that point where it was always good,” Reyes said.
So, in 2023, Reyes left the department.
In addition to leadership, he cited a handful of other factors which motivated him to move on.
“Trying to get a little bit more pay, try to get better benefits for my family, trying to get off on the street per se, to get away from the violence,” Reyes said.
Last week, the city confirmed it was down 223 officers.
That is a fourth of its total budgeted crime-fighting force.
Reyes believes unfulfilled promises prompted some of his former Birmingham partners to look elsewhere.
“Y'all going to get a raise. Y'all will get a raise. Keep hearing this stuff year in, year, year. And then nothing happens. You start to get frustrated,” he said.
Then, on Tuesday, Birmingham approved a new officer recruitment plan.
It includes $10,000 sign-on and retention bonuses, plus a take-home vehicle program for select officers.
We asked Reyes if he felt the plan would fix the problem.
“Not all the way, but helping to. To fix the problem. Yes. That stuff that's in that plan has been lacking for a long time,” he said.
Reyes currently works for the state as a parole officer, where he clocks out at 5 p.m. every day and gets Friday to Sunday off to spend with his family.
He said that is a work-life balance the responsibilities of an East Precinct patrol officer do not offer.
Reyes added that while it's nice to see this recruitment plan offers take-home vehicles, he does not feel the city should limit it to officers living in Birmingham.
He also believes boosting salaries across the board would go a long way to narrow the staffing gap.
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