Legislation that would require the Montgomery Police Department to increase its number of officers or risk a state takeover of operations is expected to get its first vote today.
The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee delayed last week a vote on Senate Bill 289 filed this month, following pushback from Democrats on the committee and city officials. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed called the bill “meddling by the state.”
Sponsor Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, said Monday the conversations he’s had with people in the last week have been supportive of the bill. His district includes a portion of Montgomery.
“All of the communication that I’ve had is from people, from people I represent to other lawmakers, who have said, ‘Great job, we need this bill,’” Barfoot told Alabama Daily News. “Now, some of those people won’t raise their hand publicly.”
The bill gives law enforcement agencies in Class 3 municipalities five years to have at least two full-time officers for every 1,000 residents. Huntsville and Montgomery are the only two Class 3 municipalities in the state, but the conversations have centered on Montgomery.
If that staffing requirement is not met within a five-year window, ALEA could take over operational oversight of the department. The takeover would last until one year after the municipality becomes compliant with the staffing requirement and could include creating a plan to improve staffing, deploying supplemental officers or resources or entering into agreements with other law enforcement entities.
Non-compliant agencies would have to show improvements of more than 10% of their staffing deficit per year during that five-year grace period under the bill.
Barfoot said the bill’s purpose is to increase public safety for those who live and work in Montgomery.
“You do that at least in part by having more law enforcement officers engaged and employed and having more contacts with citizens and those who may want to do us harm,” Barfoot said.
The legislation would require about 400 officers in Montgomery.
At last week’s committee meeting, Montgomery Police Chief James Graboys said improvements in recruitment and retention are being made.
Barfoot said he’s hopeful the city can raise staffing on its own and why the bill allows a five-year window for improvements.
A request for comment from the city was not returned Monday.
The committee kicks off this week’s State House action at 1 p.m.
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