MONTGOMERY — New Montgomery County District Attorney Azzie Oliver outlined her priorities for her new role on Monday.
Governor Kay Ivey announced on Thursday she was appointing Oliver to serve as Montgomery County District Attorney, replacing Daryl Bailey, who recently retired.
"I understand that Montgomery we have work to do. We know that crime has become rampant in Montgomery and I want to thank our Attorney General for having the vision to create the (Metro Area Crime) suppression unit because we all know that law enforcement presence on the street makes a huge difference," Oliver told Montgomery Rotary Club members on Monday.
Oliver is a graduate of Alabama State University and the Jones School of Law.
"I remember a time when I was here in college. It's how I ended up here in Montgomery, and just seeing the motorcycle cops over around Huntingdon College used to scare me to death, and we don't see those anymore. Thank you for our Sheriff whom I have a good working relationship with (and) we're now beginning to see more law enforcement presence on the street," Oliver said.
Oliver continued, "We have to come together and unite and tackle what's going on with education, what's going on with the lack of parenting here in Montgomery."
"Get behind law enforcement and support them. I'm hopeful that we get a strong chief of police so we can begin to build morale at the police department. We have to address our families, our broken families and I think that is a big problem that Montgomery faces. I talk to mothers all the time who are at work trying to work and find out that her child may not be at school. That may not be her only child. She's trying to raise and provide for her family. We have to come up with those solutions. The only way we're going to be able to do that is for us to unite. I have a problem when there's crime in my neighborhood and crime in my street. I'm sure you do as well. I don't think there's anybody in Montgomery who would celebrate crime in their neighborhood. I'm just looking forward to your support, looking forward to uniting all the local agencies, all our government officials and our leaders so we can get this job done. We have to make Montgomery the place that it once was. It was a great city. I'm proud to be in this city and I'm ready to get my hands dirty to continue working hard for the citizens and you," Oliver said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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