The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday narrowly passed a measure to create a citizen observer patrol unit, with some council members expressing concerns about safety for both the unit and the public.

“In your opinion, do you not think this a liability nightmare for the city of Birmingham,” Councilor Hunter Williams asked city attorneys about the unit, which would be composed of 200 volunteers overseen by the police department.

City attorney Nicole King told the council, “I can say, with the type of training that is in place, that this will be a success, but of course you can never anticipate.”

The council also approved a measure establishing a police department-trained auxiliary police force of volunteers.

City attorney Tracy Roberts told the council that other municipalities in the state have instituted programs similar to the COP proposal.

“It’s basically citizens who are on duty as volunteers and work as the eyes and ears of the police department,” he said.  “They have no law enforcement power.”

Roberts said the COP volunteers would receive training from Birmingham police and wear hats and T-shirts identifying them as part of the unit. According to city staff, the volunteers will have access to city vehicles for patrols, but not ones equipped with police sirens or lights.

Police Chief Scott Thurmond said the city had a similar program in the Woodlawn community in the past.

Councilor J.T. Moore, whose district includes Woodlawn, said many residents were upset that the project went away, though he cautioned, “that was during a different time. I would hope that whatever training is provided reflects the changes and the time we live in now. We have a lot more issues that we’re dealing with, with policies that have changed that kind of give a little bit more freedom to folks that are on our streets that want to do the wrong thing.”

Council members asked why the Woodlawn program ended, and city staff said recruitment and funding were both issues.

Williams said another reason was that one of the volunteers was beaten up on patrol.

Williams said he believes the money would be better spent investing in actual police officers instead of “old ladies riding around recording things.”

“I cannot vote for this and put citizens’ lives in danger and further take away from resources that would go to the actual APOST officers of the Birmingham police department,” he said, referring to officers with certification through the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission.

Councilor Crystal Smitherman asked the city’s lawyers if the COP volunteers would have immunity from lawsuits.

King said the council would have to enter into executive session to discuss specifics about potential litigation, but that if the volunteers were following guidelines, “those can be covered.”

The council passed the measure with members Valerie Abbott, Carol Clarke, LaTonya Tate, Clinton Woods and Darrell O’Quinn voting yes and councilor Wardine Alexander as well as Moore, Williams and Smitherman abstaining.

Along with the COP unit, the council approved a measure establishing an auxiliary police force. The reserve unit would take volunteers, who will be trained through Birmingham police. However, the city hopes to attract APOST-certified officers, who would have arresting power and be eligible for 20% of a full-time police officer’s salary.

According to city staff, each member of the auxiliary police force will be required to wear a badge and armband indicating their position, and they will carry a firearm only when directly authorized by the police chief.

Refurbish Former West Precinct Police Building, Other Business

The council on Tuesday also approved a redevelopment agreement with Omega Bridge Builders Foundation, under which the organization will undertake a project to refurbish the former West Precinct police building at 624 19th Street Ensley.

The Omega Psi Phi fraternity will use the building to provide youth and community training programs to the Ensley community.

During the meeting, the mayor and city administration agreed to reduce the price from $30,000 to $1,000, to which foundation members gave a standing ovation.

City Budget Hearing Set

The council set a hearing on the 2025 fiscal year budget for 5 p.m. June 3 in the council chambers. Residents can sign up to speak between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. outside the chambers.

During Tuesday’s meeting, staff from the city’s finance department proposed that the council approve the current general fund budget as a stand-in for the 2025 fiscal year budget to prevent the city from missing state-mandated deadlines.

Chief of Operations Chaz Mitchell said this was necessary because of delays caused by weeks of computer network outages the city experienced starting in March. The outages, caused by a ransomware attack, meant city staff had to enter accounting data manually.

That data has to be re-entered, which will place the finance department behind schedule, city staff said.

Mitchell said the council can amend the budget to reflect its 2025 priorities once the work is made up.

Councilor Carol Clarke asked whether the finance department had a general idea of when staff will have the amended budget ready for the council. Cedric Sparks, chief of staff to the mayor, told her, “It’s just very difficult for that process to be boxed into a window, just know that we will be in regular communication with you and the public.”

In other business, the council voted to:

• Apply for a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program to complete street amenities such as bike lanes, sidewalks, side paths and traffic calming along 56 road segments throughout the city. The $12 million grant will require a $3 million match.
• Pay $1 million to make renovations to the Huffman BallPark. The work will include improvements to the lighting system, dugouts, signage, roofing, restrooms and fencing.