By james art 
An advisory panel of business, community and criminal justice leaders has been established to identify promising strategies to reduce homicides in Birmingham.
The formation of the diverse group comes in response to the city already surpassing the number of homicides in 2023 with months left in the year.
The commission is modeled after a successful effort started in Birmingham in the 1990s, when then-Mayor Richard Arrington appointed a commission to address rising crime.
21 members of the Birmingham Homicide Reduction Advisory Commission
Below are the 21 members of the commission appointed by Mayor Randall Woodfin.
Co-chaired by Ralph Williams Jr., vice president of Alabama Power’s Birmingham division, and Lee Steislinger III, co-chairman of Altec Inc.
- Leeroy Abrahams, executive vice president of Regions Bank
- Dr. Tracy Morant Adams, Senior Executive Vice President at Renasant Bank
- Chris Anderson, Talladega College Police Chief
- Emory Anthony, Attorney at Law
- Frank Barefield, Chairman, CrimeStoppers of Metro Alabama
- Dr. Thomas Beavers, pastor at New Rising Star Church
- Danny Carr, Jefferson County District Attorney
- Patrick Davis, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service – Birmingham Office
- Monique Greer, Director, Jefferson County Youth Detention Center
- David Hicks, Jefferson County Health Officer
- Dr. Jeff Kerby, director of UAB’s Division of Trauma and Emergency Surgery
- Philip Harris, Vestavia Police Department, Birmingham Police Detective (retired)
- Carnell Howell, Senior Managing Director at Howell Consulting
- Jamie McMahon, Chairman of Ligon Industries
- Chris Nani, Chief Executive of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
- Arnie Odoms, Communications Manager at Birmingham Promise
- Shanta Owens, Jefferson County Judge
- Michael Streety, Jefferson County Judge
- Bo Walters, President, Dunn Construction
Former Birmingham Police Chief AC Roper will serve as an advisor to the group.
“We all feel a sense of urgency and share the mayor’s belief that these senseless killings must end.” We will look for best practice that works elsewhere and what has the best chance of making a difference in Birmingham.”
Former Birmingham Police Chief AC Roper
Strategies Needed: Report in 60 days
The commission is tasked with performing the following tasks:
- Collect for the city strategies and programs that have helped other cities and jurisdictions reduce crime and especially homicide
- Prepare an initial report to the city in less than 60 days
Birmingham Police Foundation will be a key partner in supporting the fact-finding commission’s work and implementing its recommendations.
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