General
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin today named Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett as the city’s official top cop.
Pickett, 40, took over as the interim chief in December following the retirement of Chief Scott Thurmond.
Under his leadership, the city has seen an almost 50 percent decrease in homicides in the first quarter of 2025, and a homicide clearance rate well above the national average.
“Leadership matters,” Woodfin said. “Chief Pickett leads from the front. Not from behind a desk.”
“I want to thank Mayor Woodfin for his confidence in me and support for the Birmingham Police Department,” Pickett said.
“From the mayor and council’s support of the $16 million police recruitment and retention plan to a commitment to new resources, and investment in a comprehensive violence reduction strategy, we are working to create the next generation of effective law enforcement in Birmingham.”
Pickett joined the Birmingham Police Department in 2004.
He is a graduate of Ramsay High School and Miles College.
“Birmingham is my home,‘’ Pickett said. “I love this city.”
“I know this city and I’ve dedicated my career to serving it,‘’ he said in October when he was tapped as interim chief.
On Tuesday, Pickett said acccountability will be upheld and he’s excited about moving the city forward.
“I’m excited about the direction we’re going,‘’ he said. ”We have several things that are in place to make sure everyone has as safe a summer as possible.”
Pickett began his law enforcement career at the city’s West Precinct and went on to become a field training officer. He has served in various roles including the City Wide Task Force and the Crime Reduction Team.
After working stints in patrol, investigations, and Dignitary Protection, Pickett was promoted to the rank of sergeant and then lieutenant.
As a lieutenant, he became commander of the City-Wide Traffic Task Force, Executive Protection Unit, and Security Services Division.
He was also the Law Enforcement Branch Director for the 2022 World Games.
He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in criminal justice, with a concentration in Homeland Security and Advanced Counterterrorism.
Pickett, in late 2023, took on the task of putting the brakes on exhibition driving and illegal street racing at Woodfin’s directive. The first effort by Operation Knight Rider took place earlier this year.
Pickett’s team analyzed data, and that data was used to narrow down and target hotspots for resource deployment.
“We are going to show these criminal offenders that the streets of Birmingham are not going to be a place where you are going to showcase your vehicle’s abilities,‘’ Pickett said at the time.
Pickett earlier this year unveiled the department’s eight-point crime reduction strategy which includes the Special Enforcement Team.
The SET is made up of officers selected from throughout the department who don’t respond to calls but instead patrol crime hot spots.
Those officers target the most dangerous criminals based on intelligence from multiple sources including BPD Intel, precinct commander reports, and ShotSpotter data.
Pickett put the team together in the summer of 2024, and made it permanent in December when he became the interim chief.
He spoke with AL.com Monday regarding the department’s success in recent months.
“Our patrol officers are patrolling more intentionally. I feel morale has increased, and we’re seeing a reflection of that,” Pickett said.
“And our Special Enforcement Teams are focused more intently on our violent offenders.”
“I think taking them off the street, intercepting them before they have the opportunity to shoot someone or take someone’s life is having an impact,” he said.
“I also think what is having an impact is some of the significant arrests that we’ve made.”
Is the current success sustainable?
“That is definitely my goal,” Pickett said.
“I know that crime changes, I know that the nature of the way a criminal’s mind works is they see things and they adjust, and police have to do that as well and we have to do it as swiftly as they do it.”
“I just want to keep this going,” he said. “I want 2025 to be one of the best years we’ve had in a very long time.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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