Bill requiring increase in Montgomery police staff passes senate

SB 298, a legislation that requires the Montgomery Police Department to increase its staff, has passed the Alabama Senate. 

Sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road), the bill states that if the department does not satisfy the requirement the state will do it for them, according to Alabama Political Reporter. 

Barfoot says that the legislation was formed to address public safety and will alleviate shortage issues in the department. 

Ever since its introduction it has been met with opposition from the city government. It mandates two officers per 1,000 residents, which would mean having approximately 400 officers, said a statement from the city, though they say that the number is not the only issue. 

City officials criticized it as overreach from the state. 

“SB 298 is not about public safety — it is about control," said Mayor Steven Reed. "This bill imposes an unfunded mandate on Montgomery that the State of Alabama itself fails to meet by a factor of twenty."

"You cannot hold cities to a standard you refuse to meet at the state level. Our police department is delivering real results — violent crime is down, homicides are down, and our community is safer today than it was just a few years ago. This legislation doesn’t support that progress. It puts it at risk.”