Mayor Woodfin takes steps to downsize security detail
Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has taken steps to downsize his security detail following recommendations from the Birmingham police force.
Mayor Woodfin had asked for a reduction in the number serving on his security detail when he took office on November 28 , 2017.
The detail was reduced by one person based on recommendations by police on how many were needed to effectively perform the job.
While it is not possible to make a full comparison of previous costs for the security detail because the administration has been in office just over four months, the combined salaries of the current detail in that time period is $71,436.
For perspective, the year-to-date salary for the same period one year ago was $109,954.42.
The Birmingham Police officers assigned from the patrol division to the security detail work to ensure a safe and secure environment for the mayor and those around him as he works in and outside of the city. In order to effectively do their jobs, they must discreetly assess the situation and any potential threats or hazards in any given situation. That calls for these officers to be able to blend into any given setting and not be easily identifiable. Section 36-12-40 of the Alabama Code, which gives every citizen a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, exempts “records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures.”
The disclosure of these police officers’ names or the actual number of officers on the detail would limit them to effectively perform the basic functions of their jobs.
Section 36-12-40
Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings; exceptions.
Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. Provided however, registration and circulation records and information concerning the use of the public, public school or college and university libraries of this state shall be exempted from this section. Provided further, any parent of a minor child shall have the right to inspect the registration and circulation records of any school or public library that pertain to his or her child. Notwithstanding the foregoing, records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation information concerning critical infrastructure (as defined at 42 U.S.C. §5195c(e) as amended) and critical energy infrastructure information (as defined at 18 C.F.R. §388.113(c)(1) as amended) the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare, and records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public shall be exempted from this section. Any public officer who receives a request for records that may appear to relate to critical infrastructure or critical energy infrastructure information, shall notify the owner of such infrastructure in writing of the request and provide the owner an opportunity to comment on the request and on the threats to public safety or welfare that could reasonably be expected from public disclosure on the records.
