Birmingham’s new police chief talks updating the city’s crimefighting strategies
Patrick D. Smith talks increasing department staff and his new 72-hour briefing policy.
He’s been on the job for less than a week, but Birmingham’s new police chief is already working to implement new investigative strategies, according to a new interview with BirminghamWatch.
Patrick D. Smith, formerly a commander at the Los Angeles Police Department, was selected for the job by Mayor Randall Woodfin earlier this month. (He’ll be joined by State Rep. Alan Treadaway as assistant chief.) Woodfin praised Smith’s “bridge-building” skills and dedication to strengthening the communities the police department serves.
Now that he’s taken office, Smith says his first steps have been to hire new investigators — the department is notably understaffed — and to require 72-hour check-ins from investigators of major crimes.
“Within 72 hours of a major incident happening, I want an investigator to follow every lead, identify suspects, do everything they can — but in 72 hours, I want them to have a chief’s briefing,” he told BirminghamWatch. “I want that investigator to come to the chief’s conference room along with other investigators and people of the department’s command staff, and I want them to explain what they’ve done, where they are, the investigative steps, and what they need — but more importantly, what we need to do to support (them) in getting that job done.”
Read the full Q&A at BirminghamWatch.
