Birmingham Police Practices Under Review: Mayor

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Amid nationwide protests regarding police brutality and questionable tactics, Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin announced Wednesday that Birmingham police practices will come under review in a new accountability method.

The city issued a survey earlier this week, and Woodfin said over the next 30 days, the city will conduct an internal review of the police department, consistent with the "8 Can't Wait" format.

"At the end of that 30 day period I will issue an executive order executing any gaps we find between what we do," Woodfin said. "We will determine a community safety task force that will do a 90-day deeper drive into all the Birmingham Police Department’s rules and procedures."

Woodfin said will use an executive order at the end of the 90 days "addressing any gaps between what officers are doing now and best practices."

"Every city has to figure out what they're going to pay for and what they're not and how they’re going to police in a post-George Floyd world," Woodfin said. "Birmingham is no different and everything is on the table."

Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith said Birmingham police officers are required to take 60 hours of de-escalation training, and added that methods such as choke-holds or shooting into moving vehicles are not taught in those sessions and are not authorized tactics.