The “interim” has been dropped from the beginning of Police Chief Michael Pickett’s title as Mayor Randall Woodfin officially appointed him to the position Tuesday.

“Chief Pickett leads from the front, not from behind the desk. When I say we’re cleaning up the city, he’s literally doing that,” Woodfin said during a press conference to announce the news. “He’s out in the field … . He’s actually gone into the field himself and tracked down a killer — and then he called for backup. This is what we define as fearless leadership from a man who has a true heart for Birmingham.”

Woodfin said that under Pickett’s leadership of the department, the city has seen a sharp decrease in homicides. According to police data, Birmingham experienced 19 murders between Jan. 1 and March 31. That’s compared to 34 during the same time in 2024.

Speaking at the conference Tuesday, Pickett said he was honored and humbled by the appointment.

“I want to thank Mayor Woodfin for his confidence in me to continue to lead this amazing department of men and women,” he said.

Pickett later added, “To the men and women of this department: you are the backbone of this agency. I want you to know that I will constantly work to get you the resources, the training and the leadership that you all need to be successful. Under my leadership, hard work will be recognized, accountability will be upheld and we will move forward together. To our community: you are not just residents, you are our partners. And we could not have had the success that we’ve had in the first quarter of 2025 without your help.”

Pickett, a 20-year veteran with the Birmingham Police Department, took over as interim chief in November after the retirement of Chief Scott Thurmond. Thurmond, who served 26 years in the department, had been in the top position since 2022.

He retired as the city was facing its highest homicide rate on record. In October, state Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, had called for Thurmond to resign, citing low morale in the department and a lack of a plan to deal with the increase in violence. Givan announced her run for Birmingham mayor in January.

Speaking during Tuesday’s press conference, Woodfin listed some of the department’s major accomplishments since Pickett took over in November. They included:

• Implementation of an eight-point crime reduction plan.
• An increase in investigative clearance rates.
• Establishment of a Special Enforcement Team responsible for hundreds of arrests and the removal of illegal firearms from city streets.

A Birmingham native, Pickett graduated from Ramsay High School and Miles College. According to a news release from the city, his first assignment with the Birmingham Police Department was as a patrol officer in the West Precinct. His career has included undercover work, oversight of safety and security of major events such as The World Games, and serving as deputy chief of special operations, where he successfully implemented Operation Knight Rider as a response to illegal and dangerous exhibition driving in the city.

Note: We have a list of stories published on or after April 1 in this Google Doc.