From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced on Wednesday that he has initiated a 30-day review to look into police transparency and accountability measures following worldwide protests in response to police brutality and targeting of minorities.
Woodfin announced the measure during a Wednesday morning press conference that included Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith, Birmingham City Councilman Hunter Williams and FOP President Lt. Richard Haluska.
“Over the next 30 days there will be an internal review led by my office pursuant to the #8CantWait Framework,” Woodfin said. “At the end of that 30 day period, I will issue an executive order executing any gaps we find between what we do.”
The #8CantWait campaign pushes cities to adopt policies that reduce the harm caused by police. The movement believes that more restrictive use of force policies can reduce killings by police and save lives. As such, the campaign has introduced eight policies that police departments should enact: Ban chokeholds and strangleholds, require deescalation, require warning before shooting, requires exhaustion of all alternatives before shooting, duty to intervene, ban shooting at moving vehicles, require use of force continuum and require comprehensive reporting.
Smith, who took the podium following Woodfin, said that his department follows the above guidelines and does not authorize chokeholds or strangulation tactics, nor do they shoot at moving vehicles unless the threat of potential harm becomes imminent. Furthermore, officers must go to 60 hours of additional training each year, which is on top of the 12 hours that state policing standards require.
Following the 30-day review, Woodfin will name a community safety task force, which will consist of representatives throughout the community, to conduct a 90-day review of all Birmingham Police Department practices. Woodfin will then issue an executive order addressing any measures that need to be fixed and the best practices needed to move forward.
“Every city right now is going to have to figure out what they’re going to pay for and what they aren’t 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.”
Smith also discussed the actions that he has taken to clean out the police department since his arrival in 2018. He said that 16 officers have been terminated, seven of whom resigned in lieu of termination, while 39 officers have received suspension and 25 have had to undergo additional training.
“This has been a very difficult time for us in law enforcement, a difficult time for those who do this profession and want to do what is right for the city and communities they serve,” Smith said.