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Birmingham remembers Sgt. Wytasha Carter


The funeral service for Sgt. Wytasha L. Carter will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Birmingham- Jefferson Convention Complex, Legacy Arena, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North.

Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 from 12 to 6 p.m. at Ridout’s Trussville Chapel, 1500 Gadsden Highway.

Interment is slated to happen Monday Jan. 21 at Alabama National Veterans Cemetery, 3133 Highway 119, Montevallo.


Birmingham Police Sgt. Wytasha Carter is being remembered as a man with a dedication to his fellow officers, students and fighting crime.

“He was just driven,’’ said his supervisor, Lt. Shelia Finney. “He was a great sergeant. I enjoyed working with him.’’

Early this morning, Sgt. Carter was killed in the line of duty as he investigated car burglaries in the 900 block of Fifth Avenue North. Another officer was also shot and remains in critical condition at UAB Hospital. Police have apprehended two suspects. The case remains under investigation.

“As this investigation continues, I ask that everyone pause and reflect on how our Birmingham police officers go out every day to protect our community,’’ said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “Sgt. Wytasha Carter laid down his life for the city he served. This husband and father was a true public servant and will be honored by each of us.”

“I join Police Chief Patrick Smith in lifting prayers for the family of Sgt. Carter’s family and the family of the second officer. What happened today was a senseless act of violence that has left a city in mourning. Loss is hard, and this one is the ultimate. As a city, we will stand united behind BPD as they remain dedicated to justice and continued service for the people of Birmingham.’’

Earlier today, Chief Smith told reporters: “This is one of the roughest hours of your career. There’s not a chief, not an officer, that ever wants to have to deal with this.’’

“This is a very, very difficult thing for the family. A very difficult thing for the department,” Chief Smith said.

Carter is the 52nd BPD officer killed in the line of duty. The last time a BPD officer was killed was in 2004 when three officers were killed in an ambush. Sgt. Carter is the third law enforcement officer fatally shot in 2019 in the United States.

“Everybody is just hurt right now. We lost a brother,’’ said Lt. Finney. “Knowing he is not here right now is hard.’’

Sgt. Carter, 44, began his law enforcement career in 2002 as a correctional officer with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Later that year, he joined the Leeds Police Department as an officer. In 2007, he joined the Fairfield Police Department. He transferred to the Birmingham Police Department in 2011.

Sgt. Carter worked in various positions with BPD, including the West Precinct, HICOPP, a Police Athletic Teams coach for children and a school resource officer at Jackson-Olin and Woodlawn high schools. He was promoted to sergeant in February 2018. At the time of his death, he was working at the North Precinct.

Earlier today, chaplains visited the North Precinct to offer assistance to any officers in need.

Dwayne Thompson, a civilian serving as a crime prevention officer at the North Precinct, described Sgt. Carter as an “all-around great guy’’ with a love for community, being a police officer and coaching children on the Police Athletic Team league in basketball and baseball. “He enjoyed the ability to do good for other people and turn young people around,’’ Thompson said. “He wanted to see the city move forward.’’

Lt. Finney said Sgt. Carter believed in praising the officers on his shift. He often commended officers for a job well done and saluted them for their team work. During the Christmas holidays, he joined supervisors at his precinct in providing gift bags for the officers on his shift.

“He was very compassionate about his officers and’’ the students he served when he worked as a school resource officer, she said. “He was a fun and professional person to be around. Being his supervisor, anything I needed, it was done.’’

Sgt. Carter also had a playful side, always telling jokes and singing.

“What stands out the most was his singing. He loved to sing. He loved his Gospel music,’’ Lt. Finney said.

City employee Jarralynne Agee said that as even as late as last fall, Sgt. Carter would work Birmingham City Schools football games.“He was someone people could always count on. And when other people turned away from you, he always had your back,’’ Agee. “Every time I saw him, he was always smiling and always pleasant. That is something I will miss about him: Seeing him in uniform and greeting me with a smile.’’

Sgt. Carter is a 1993 graduate of Phillips High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Belford University. He also served in the United States Airforce. He is survived by his wife, Tiphanie, and children.

Friend and City of Birmingham employee Toni King said she was in the band with Sgt. Carter at Phillips High School, where they called him, YT. He was their drum major and a natural born leader.

“At Birmingham City Schools, our bands were everything,’’ King said. “He made being in band everything. He was always leading us on the field and in life. Now that he’s gone, he will be my drum major for life.’’