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Birmingham Police Chief to retire, Mayor Woodfin names interim chief 

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond announced today that he will retire from the Birmingham Police Department effective November 29, 2024. Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has named Deputy Chief Michael Pickett as the interim police chief upon Thurmond’s departure.  

“I want to thank Chief Thurmond for his many years of service and commitment to our city,” Mayor Woodfin said. “Under Chief Thurmond’s leadership, we have seen a reduction in overall violent and property crime. While we remain laser-focused on reducing gun violence, in particular homicides, I want to commend Chief Thurmond for his leadership that led to last week’s arrests in three cases, including the Magnolia Avenue shooting.”

“After 26 years of service and much thought and prayer, I began to have this discussion with my family about four to five months ago,” said Chief Thurmond. “I have served the citizens of Birmingham and the Birmingham Police Department for over half of my life, and I am forever grateful for all of the friends and memories. My tenure at the Birmingham Police Department has exceeded any expectations I may have had when I first embarked on this journey. I am also extremely grateful to Mayor Woodfin for giving me the opportunity to lead the Birmingham Police Department. I am confident that I could not be leaving this city and its citizens in better hands.”   

Under Thurmond’s leadership, the department has continued to strengthen valuable alliances with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and multiple federal partners. Those resources combined with the city’s continued investment in technology and focus on a $16 million recruiting and retention campaign for officers will define the future of law enforcement in Birmingham. 

Deputy Chief of Special Operations Michael Pickett is a two-decade law enforcement veteran. He is a graduate of Ramsay High School and Miles College. Pickett joined the Birmingham Police Department 20 years ago. His first assignment was West Precinct patrol. 

“Deputy Chief Pickett is a committed public servant and innovative public safety strategist,” Mayor Woodfin said. “Under DC Pickett’s leadership, BPD dramatically reduced the dangerous lawlessness of exhibition driving through Operation Knight Rider. This operation has reduced the disruption this lawless behavior created in our city streets.” 

Beyond Operation Knight Rider, Pickett has been chiefly responsible for the safety and security of major events such as The World Games, in partnership with federal partners and other local agencies. The World Games was highly successful from a public safety perspective.

“I want to thank Mayor Woodfin for his confidence in me and offering this opportunity,” Pickett said. “My focus is straightforward. – a safer city. I’ll aim to motivate and reinvigorate our men and women in the department.
Attract more officers to join this department while emphasizing efficient and effective policing. My number one goal is to make the citizens of Birmingham feel safer and to make criminals uncomfortable and fearful in our city. Thank you and I look forward to getting to work.” 

In addition, Woodfin has appointed Captain Edmond Hanks to the position of Interim Assistant Chief of Police effective November 29, 2024. Captain Hanks is a second-generation BPD police officer and has served the city’s police department for 33 years, including leadership roles as Captain of North Precinct as well as Captain of South Precinct, among other units in the department.   

Remaining in their current roles are:  

  • Deputy Chief of Patrols Onree Pruitt. As head of patrols, Chief Pruitt’s officers are the front line in protecting our neighborhoods. His team has made a dramatic impact in the Safe Streets: East Lake pilot project – slowing traffic, increasing patrols and reducing safety concerns for many residents. 
  • Deputy Chief of Investigations, Jeff Brown, will continue to lead the units and teams responsible for solving homicides as well as other crimes against persons and property. Brown’s team recently announced arrests associated with the mass shooting in 5 Points South and they continue to work hard to bring justice to all families affected by gun violence in Birmingham.  
  • Chief Rodarius Mauldin serves as the administrative leader for the department, ensuring BPD communications, operations, and human resources run smoothly. Mauldin’s number one priority is recruitment and retention of patrol officers and ensuring BPD is competitive among other law enforcement and related agencies.   

“With the adoption of an aggressive recruitment and retention plan for officers, the independent advisory work of the community-based Crime Commission, continued investment in technology and a lock-step relationship with our partners including Sheriff Pettway and his office and federal law enforcement, I am confident we will achieve the expectations the residents and I have,” Mayor Woodfin said.