Senate bill targets police staffing in Huntsville, Montgomery
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
A bill introduced in the state Legislature aims to set minimum staffing levels for Huntsville and Montgomery police departments.
Why it matters: If passed, the bill could lead to a state takeover of local law enforcement, though Huntsville leaders say the city already meets the bill's requirements.
Zoom in: Senate Bill 298, introduced by Sen. Will Barfoot of Elmore, Montgomery and Crenshaw counties, requires police departments in the state's Class 3 municipalities to have two sworn officers for every 1,000 residents by Oct. 1.
- The bill applies to Class 3 municipalities, which the Alabama state law defines as having a population of 100,000-174,999 in 1970.
- The only two in the state are Huntsville (139,282 in 1970) and Montgomery (133,386 in 1970).
- The bill calculates the two-officers requirement using the 2020 Census, which puts Huntsville's population at 215,006, meaning the bill would require 430 sworn officers in Huntsville.
How it works: The bill gives the cities till Oct. 1 this year, when a five-year grace period begins. The cities must make progress toward the ratio at 10% of the missing number each year.
- If they can't reach the goal, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency "may assume operational oversight of the police department," and take related actions for at least a year after the department comes into compliance.
What they're saying: "The proposed legislation applies to an antiquated system of municipal classifications," the city said in a statement to Axios. "The City of Huntsville already meets all of these requirements."
- Barfoot did not return requests for comment from Axios this week.
- State Sen. Sam Givhan told Axios that he's been in contact with Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles and other representatives from Huntsville as they work through the process.
- Givhan said while the city meets the requirements, it may not in the future.
Context: Montgomery officials are pushing back on the measure, per the Alabama Political Reporter, with Mayor Steven Reed calling it "a solution in search of a problem" at a hearing.
- "There are major differences between the circumstances that we enjoy in our community and those being experienced by those in Montgomery," Givhan said to Axios in an email. "We don't need as many officers in Huntsville as they do in Montgomery."
What we're watching: The bill was heard in the Senate's County and Municipal Government Committee Tuesday, and APR reports it's the first item on that committee's schedule next week.