4 months ago
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FOP believes BPD officer gap is greater than Mayor's claims
FORECAST. WELL, BIRMINGHAM POLICE STAFFING CONTINUES TO SPARK DEBATE IN THE CITY’S PUBLIC SAFETY CIRCLES. YESTERDAY, THE MAYOR’S OFFICE RELEASED THE LATEST NUMBER OF BPD OFFICER VACANCIES. JON PAEPCKE JOINS US WITH THIS. WVTM 13 INVESTIGATES REPORT. WHAT KIND OF REACTION HAVE YOU RECEIVED SINCE BREAKING THE STORY LAST NIGHT, JOHN? WELL, GUY, WHILE SOME OF MY SOURCES WERE GLAD TO SEE THE MAYOR PUBLISH THE CURRENT 223 OFFICER SHORTAGE, OTHERS STILL BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS WORSE. IN THE WAKE OF THE FIVE POINT SOUTH MASS SHOOTING TWO WEEKS AGO, DEBATE OVER BIRMINGHAM POLICE STAFFING SHORTAGES HAS SURGED. WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS A DELTA IN THE NUMBER OF PATROL OFFICERS THAT WE CURRENTLY NEED, AND THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. ON TUESDAY, BIRMINGHAM MAYOR RANDALL WOODFIN ADDRESSED THE CURRENT PATROL OFFICER VACANCIES WHILE PITCHING A NEW HIRING PLAN OF 443 77. EXISTS, WHICH MAKES IT AN OPENING OF 63 POSITIONS FOR PATROL. BUT AFTER QUESTIONING WOODFIN NUMBERS, CITY COUNCILOR HUNTER WILLIAMS DEMANDED A VACANCY FIGURE FOR THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, A NUMBER THE MAYOR AND CHIEF COULD NOT PROVIDE AT THE MOMENT. Y’ALL ARE TELLING ME THAT Y’ALL THAT THE CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF AND MAYOR. Y’ALL DON’T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SHORT IN BIRMINGHAM. POLICE, MAN. I’M NOT. LOOK, I DON’T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF MOOD YOU’RE IN. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF MOOD. JARRION, MAN. IT’S A SIMPLE QUESTION. ONCE THAT MEETING ENDED, THE MAYOR REVISED HIS PATROL OFFICER SHORTAGE CLAIM. I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF 172 COMBINED FOR ALL FOUR PRECINCTS IN PATROL. WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT NUMBERS, WE ASKED FOR A TOTAL BPD VACANCY ASSESSMENT. THEN LAST NIGHT, THE MAYOR’S OFFICE TOLD US THAT 223 OUT OF 851 SWORN OFFICER POSITIONS WERE OPEN. THAT IS RIGHT. AT 26% OF THE CITY’S TOTAL CRIME FIGHTING FORCE. WE RAN THOSE NUMBERS BY THE FOP AFTER GOING THROUGH THEIR RECORDS. A REPRESENTATIVE INSISTS THE STAFFING GAP IS EVEN LARGER. COUNCILOR WILLIAMS LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MAYOR TO NARROW THAT GAP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A HIGH PRICE TAG, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND IN TERMS OF THE THE NUMBER OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO DELIVER BIRMINGHAM NEIGHBORHOODS, THE SENSE OF SAFETY THEY EXPECT. WELL, RIGHT NOW, WILLIAMS AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL ARE WORKING ON AN AGGRESSIVE RECRUITING PACKAGE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE A $10,000 SIGN ON BONUS AND OTHER INCENTIVES TO TO KEEP MANY OF THOS
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FOP believes BPD officer gap is greater than Mayor's claims
In the wake of the Five Points South mass shooting two weeks ago, debate over Birmingham Police staffing shortages has surged.“We all know that there is a delta in the number of patrol officers that we currently need and that we currently have,” Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams said. On Tuesday, Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed the current patrol officer vacancies while pitching a new hiring plan.“Of 440, 377 exist, which makes it an opening of 63 positions for patrol,” Woodfin said.Then, after questioning Woodfin's numbers, Williams demanded a vacancy figure for the whole department.The mayor and police chief could not provide that number at the moment.“Y'all are telling me that y'all that the chief, mayor and the deputy chief, you don't know how many people short we are in Birmingham Police?” Williams asked.Once that meeting ended, the mayor offered a revised patrol officer shortage claim to the media.“I want to tell you that we have a shortage of 172 combined for all four precincts in patrol,” Woodfin said.With so many different numbers, we decided to ask for a total BPD vacancy assessment.Thursday night, the mayor's office told us that 223 out of 851 sworn officer positions were open. That is right at 26 percent of the city's total crime fighting force. We ran those numbers by the Fraternal Order of Police. After going through their own records, a representative insists the staffing gap is even larger. Williams looks forward to working with the mayor to narrow that gap as soon as possible.“When you have, such a high price tag, it's important to know where we stand, in terms of the, the number of boots on the ground,” Williams said.He and the rest of the council will now try to iron out an aggressive officer recruiting plan with Mayor Woodfin.It would include sign-on and retention bonuses, along with a take-home car program.A vote could come as early as next week.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
In the wake of the Five Points South mass shooting two weeks ago, debate over Birmingham Police staffing shortages has surged.
“We all know that there is a delta in the number of patrol officers that we currently need and that we currently have,” Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams said.
On Tuesday, Mayor Randall Woodfin addressed the current patrol officer vacancies while pitching a new hiring plan.
“Of 440, 377 exist, which makes it an opening of 63 positions for patrol,” Woodfin said.
Then, after questioning Woodfin's numbers, Williams demanded a vacancy figure for the whole department.
The mayor and police chief could not provide that number at the moment.
“Y'all are telling me that y'all that the chief, mayor and the deputy chief, you don't know how many people short we are in Birmingham Police?” Williams asked.
Once that meeting ended, the mayor offered a revised patrol officer shortage claim to the media.
“I want to tell you that we have a shortage of 172 combined for all four precincts in patrol,” Woodfin said.
With so many different numbers, we decided to ask for a total BPD vacancy assessment.
Thursday night, the mayor's office told us that 223 out of 851 sworn officer positions were open.
That is right at 26 percent of the city's total crime fighting force.
We ran those numbers by the Fraternal Order of Police.
After going through their own records, a representative insists the staffing gap is even larger.
Williams looks forward to working with the mayor to narrow that gap as soon as possible.
“When you have, such a high price tag, it's important to know where we stand, in terms of the, the number of boots on the ground,” Williams said.
He and the rest of the council will now try to iron out an aggressive officer recruiting plan with Mayor Woodfin.
It would include sign-on and retention bonuses, along with a take-home car program.
A vote could come as early as next week.
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