Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett showed up at the Birmingham City Council meeting Tuesday wearing a different uniform than the one he usually wears around City Hall.

It was a baseball jersey with the number one, and the team name “Enforcers” across the front.

That’s the name of the Birmingham Police Department’s baseball and softball team in the World Police and Fire Games being hosted this week by Birmingham.

Pickett and his officers have competed against other teams fielded by police and fire departments, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Vestavia Police and a team of firefighters from Florida in games at Rickwood Field.

They also faced the New York City Police Department, or the “Finest,” as it says on their NYPD baseball jerseys.

“The athletes’ village has been amazing,” Pickett said. “It’s been an awesome time.”

More than 8,000 police officers and firefighters are in town for the games, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said. “Many of them brought their families, and many of them are eating in our restaurants, drinking in our bars, shopping, visiting our zoo and so many city amenities,” he said.

The 2025 World Police and Fire Games began June 27 and continue through July 6.

The City of Birmingham allocated $2 million in 2022 to the World Police and Fire Games Federation to assist with organizing the games.

The sporting event features first responders competing in 1,600 medal matches in a variety of sports.

“It’s good to see so many fall in love with Birmingham, from our Civil Rights Institute to Barber Motorsports, our Botanical Garden, Vulcan, the museum and so many others,” Woodfin said. “It’s a tremendous benefit to entire community.”

The games did need a last-minute cash infusion, AL.com’s Roy S. Johnson reported.

During a special meeting of the Convention and Visitors Bureau last week, DJ Mackovets, CEO of the Birmingham host committee, said $3 million was needed to address “near-term cash-flow and ensure the successful closeout of the Games,” he said, according to minutes of the meeting.

Mackovets attributed the cash-flow issues primarily to lower-than-hoped-for corporate sponsorship support and the timing of when public dollars are scheduled to be disbursed. Corporations have committed $2.12 million, with $1.18 million already collected.

“We have seen not as many private sponsorships as we had originally budgeted for,” said City Council member Hunter Williams. “The Convention and Visitors Bureau did step up and allocate approximately $1.5 million additional to the games.”

The state’s contribution towards the World Police and Fire Games will come in quarterly installments during the next fiscal year, Williams said.

That created a lag in funding that the Bureau has bridged, he said.

“We expect to get that lodging tax back to the Convention and Visitors Bureau,” Williams said.

Along with hosting the World Games in 2022, the city now has a track record that can attract other sporting competitions, he said.

“We are able to put on world-class events,” he said.

The games’ lineup includes more than 55 disciplines, ranging from more traditional offerings like cycling, golf, softball and angling, to unique competitions like ‘ultimate firefighter,’ ‘toughest competitor alive,’ CrossFit, stair climb, and dragon boat. Events will be hosted at more than 35 venues across the city and will be free and open for all spectators.

Founded in 1987 as a biennial international sporting event, the World Police and Fire Games celebrates the service and dedication of first responders across the globe and unites them to participate in a wide range of athletic competitions.

“We are very pleased with the attendance,” Williams said.