During his Friday appearance on Mobile radio station FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) discussed failed legislation to set minimum staffing standards for law enforcement agencies in Montgomery and Huntsville.
According to the lawmaker, SB298, introduced and sponsored by State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road), would have specifically helped address Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed's failure to protect residents and businesses from rising crime.
"I think Mayor Reed made a huge mistake in not working with Senator Barfoot on that piece of legislation and not embracing additional law enforcement presence in Montgomery," said Elliott. "That could have been a real serious help to the businesses in Montgomery, and certainly to the citizens in Montgomery, because there is a very real problem. For him and the chief to say there is no problem in Montgomery is just so tone deaf it's not even funny."
Elliott argued that Reed should have accepted assistance, as Alabama's next presumptive governor may likely deploy the National Guard to minimize crime in the state's capital city.
"But here's why they should have done it more than anything. When Coach Tuberville becomes governor, he is absolutely going to implement changes in policing in Montgomery, and I wouldn't put the National Guard past him at all," Elliott asserted. "He's going to crack down, and he's going to make the capital city safe. So, I think it was unwise for Mayor Reed not to embrace the help that Senator Barfoot was trying to offer him, because Coach Tuberville is going to look at it very differently."
Elliott added, "Senator Barfoot's bill said you're going to reimburse the state for the expenses that we're having. The problem is right now that is not occurring," he explained. "It really ends up keeping the state on the hook, instead of putting the city of Montgomery and the taxpayers of Montgomery on the hook for failing to adequately staff their police force. It's one of those things that's just disappointing."
"But I think Coach Tuberville is going to fix it. I think he's going to be a lot more direct, if you will, than what Senator Barfoot was trying to do," stated Elliott.
When in Montgomery for the legislative session, Elliott said he asks for rooms on the top floor of hotels.
"That's not because I want a great view. That's because I hope that when the random gunfire from the street erupts below, that the trajectory of the bullet that comes through the window might actually lodge in the ceiling instead of the wall," noted Elliott. "Montgomery is not a safe town to be in. There is random gunfire that you hear all the time. I found bullets, not casings, the actual spent round laying in the in the parking lot of the State House. "
He accused Reed of refusing to realize the extent of the "crime problem" in Montgomery.
"It is a culture issue, it is a public safety issue, but above all, it is a leadership issue in that town. It is one of those things that concerns me. It concerns my colleagues. I know it concerns Governor Ivey. I just don't know why in the world we didn't move forward."
Elliott added, "The House adjourned right before they got to that bill. It certainly could have had the time to do that."
SB 298 would have specifically provided minimum staffing requirements for Alabama's only two Class 3 municipal law enforcement agencies
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