In the three weeks since a mass shooting in Five Points South injured 17 people and killed four, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has unveiled efforts to combat the continued historic surge of gun violence in the city.

On Tuesday, taking a page from a successful effort three decades ago, Woodfin is announcing a new effort – the formation of a 19-member advisory commission comprising business, criminal justice and community leaders that is charged with identifying the most promising and effective strategies to reduce homicides.

“Nothing is more important than us being unified,” Woodfin told AL.com. “And I’m not just talking about on paper. I’m talking about genuine, tangible action on the ground between our government leaders, corporate leaders, civic leaders, community leaders, faith leaders and law enforcement—all rolling in the same direction. I want to thank them for stepping up and being united to collectively address gun violence.”

There have been 130 homicides so far this year in Birmingham. Of those incidents, nine have been ruled justified. The city’s modern record for homicides is 148 in 1933.

The Woodfin commission will be co-chaired by Ralph Williams Jr., vice president of Alabama Power’s Birmingham Division, and Lee Styslinger III, former chairman of Altec Inc. It will be aided by former Birmingham Police Chief and retired Lt. General A.C. Roper, the first African American to achieve the U.S Army Reserve ranking. Roper served at the BPD helm from 2007 through November 2017 when he announced his retirement following the first-term election of Woodfin, who asked all department heads to reapply for their positions.

“It’s good to have someone with instant credibility in the community, which this commission is going to need,” Woodfin said. “He’s been at the top of the police department and the top of the Army. That relates to his ability to assess and investigate—to look under the hood and synthesize information related to people, places, and issues surrounding gun violence. It was a no-brainer.”

“We all feel a sense of urgency and share the mayor’s belief that these senseless killings must come to an end,” Roper said in a statement. “We will be looking for best practices that are working elsewhere and what has the best chance to make a difference in Birmingham.”

Also serving on the commission are:

• Danny Carr, Jefferson County District Attorney
• David Hicks, Jefferson County Health Officer
• Hon. Shanta Owens, 10th Judicial Circuit, criminal division
• Hon. Michael Streety, Presiding Judge Criminal Division
• Tracy Morant Adams, senior executive vice president at Renasant Bank
• Leroy Abrahams, executive vice president at Regions Bank
• Carnelle Howell, senior managing director at Howell Consulting
• Jamey McMahon, chair of Ligon Industries
• Bo Walters, President, Dunn Construction
• Chris Anderson, Chief of Police at Talladega College
• Emory Anthony, attorney
• Patrick Davis, Special Agent in Charge at U.S. Secret Service – Birmingham Field Office
• Monique Grier, director, Jefferson County Youth Detention Center
• Frank Barefield, chair, CrimeStoppers of Metro Alabama
• Dr. Thomas Beavers, pastor at New Rising Star Church
• Chris Nanni, CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
• Arnee Odoms, communications manager at Birmingham Promise

“This group brings together a variety of perspectives,” Woodfin said, “all focused on what we can do in the short-term and over the long-term to address the gun violence that has resulted in far too many broken hearts and lost lives.”

The commission initially is charged with discerning data and strategies that have helped other cities and jurisdictions reduce crime, especially homicide. Its goal is to provide a preliminary report within 60 days.

On the Tuesday following the mass shooting, Woodfin proposed a $15.8 million plan to retain and hire officers to fill the 172-officer staffing shortfall in the Birmingham Police Department. It was subsequently approved by the City Council.

Subsequently, the mayor has revealed proposals to expand the hospital-based violence intervention program launched in May 2023 at the UAB Trauma unit; partner with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform to utilize data to create a gun violence reduction strategy; and launch OneHood, modeled after the Newark Community Street Team program that has reduced gun violence in the New Jersey city by 60 percent and been replicated in other cities.

Asked if his sense of urgency in addressing gun violence was impacted by the most recent mass shooting, Woodfin said: “My sense of urgency and resolve has been clear since the first mass shooting this year, the quadruple homicide in February in Smithfield. I don’t think it was even an hour before the double homicide that included my little cousin. Six people, six people were killed that day who we don’t talk about anymore.

“Fast forward, and we had a triple homicide; there were 14 people shot, seven killed that day. My resolve, whether it’s one shooting, or the quadruple killing, or the 17 people shot and seven killed, including a five-year-old, I’m pissed about it. I’m angry about it. So, my resolve is crystal clear, and it’s been crystal clear all year—to literally do everything we can to find out who did it and remove killers off our streets.”

A similar commission was created in Birmingham in the 1990s by then-Mayor Richard Arrington to address a crime surge plaguing the city. It also deployed models utilized in other cities to provide recommendations on improving police operations, reallocating resources, and boosting community relations. After implementation, crime violent crime diminished.

“The same spirit that drove that successful effort is driving our work today,” Woodfin said. “These individuals are every bit as committed to providing high-quality information to the city and achieving the same high-impact results.”

Work by the Woodfin commission will be privately funded, augmented by resources provided by the revived Birmingham Police Foundation.

“I’ve had a lot of nights in 2024 when I haven’t slept,” Woodfin added. “But it pales in comparison of those family members who’ve lost a loved one this year. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s an awful feeling to have a loved one killed. You have a lot of nights wondering who did this to your loved one, and why was this done to your loved one. As mayor, I want to make sure it doesn’t keep happening.”