By james art From CBS 42 reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After two years at the helm of the Birmingham Police Department, Scott Thurmond is retiring, CBS 42’s Drew Taylor reports.
During a news conference Thursday, Thurmond announced he will retire as BPD chief. He will leave the force on November 29.
Thurmond, 50, said he had been thinking about retirement for the past four or five months and that he wanted to spend more time with his family.
“I thought about it a lot and it’s something I decided to do,” Thurmond said. “The department will be in good hands moving forward.”
Thurmond has served with the BPD for 26 years. In June 2022, Thurmond was promoted to chief of the department, succeeding former chief Patrick Smith, who resigned after nearly four years as chief.
Thurmond leaves office weeks after a mass shooting in Five Points South on Sept. 21 that killed four people and injured 17 others. There is one arrested in the case. As of Thursday, Birmingham had more than 120 homicides, on pace to eclipse the 135 homicides reported in the city last year.
Birmingham’s most violent year was 1933, when the city recorded 148 violent deaths.
After his speech, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin thanked Thurmond for his service to the city and his leadership of the department.
Woodfin appointed BPD Deputy Chief Michael Pickett as interim chief following Thurmond’s departure.
“I want to thank Mayor Woodfin for his confidence in me and offering me this opportunity,” Pickett said. “My focus is clear – a safer city. I will strive to motivate and revitalize our men and women in the department. Attract more officers to join this department while emphasizing effective and efficient policing. My number one goal is to make the citizens of Birmingham feel safer and to make criminals feel uncomfortable and fearful in our city. Thank you and I look forward to getting to work.”
A native of Birmingham, Pickett attended Ramsey High School and later graduated from Miles College. In 2004, Pickett joined the police department, first being assigned to the West Precinct and later becoming a field training officer.
Pickett’s previous assignments include Operation Knight Rider, which dealt with city center driving enforcement and security at the World Games and other city events.
“Deputy Chief Pickett is a dedicated public servant and innovative public safety strategist,” Woodfin said.
Pickett is Birmingham’s third police chief since Woodfin was first elected mayor in 2017.
CBS 42 News is a media partner of the Trussville Tribune.