MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that sets minimum staffing standards for law enforcement agencies in Montgomery and Huntsville.
The bill by State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) would provide minimum staffing requirements for Class 3 municipal law enforcement agencies. Alabama has two Class 3 cities, Montgomery and Huntsville. Most of the discussion about the bill has centered around Montgomery.
The requirements would include a minimum of 1.9 full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents of the municipality. The bill would establish a five-year compliance period for municipalities not in compliance on the effective date of the act. During this compliance period, the municipality would be required to meet certain goals and increase staffing. The bill would provide that if a municipality fails to meet certain staffing requirements, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency would be authorized to assume oversight of the municipal law enforcement agency. The bill would authorize the Attorney General to seek to recover any costs incurred by the state in overseeing a municipal law enforcement agency.
Montgomery City Councilman Ed Grimes recently estimated Montgomery's current police staffing level is between 220 and 230 officers, while the bill would require Montgomery to be at around 380 officers or allow ALEA to assume oversight of the police department.
Barfoot said the bill was about the public safety of the citizens of Montgomery. He said that the police shortage was specific to Montgomery compared to similar-sized cities like Huntsville, Birmingham and Mobile.
"Montgomery doesn't have the law enforcement officers that they need," Barfoot said on the Senate floor. "It's not an unfunded mandate and there's no reason to raise taxes. The money is there. It's in the city coffers, and there is not a reason to raise taxes for this particular piece of legislation. Birmingham doesn't have the issue. Mobile doesn't have that issue."
The bill was opposed by Democrats. State Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) said a lawsuit would be filed against the bill if passed into law.
"This is a bill that has passed that will go down to see its day in court," Hatcher said.
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Range) said the bill "protects our property and ability to earn a living."
"We haven't been able to get the people to serve here," Albritton said. "This (bill) helps everyone. This is the way that government should function. This is the way in which the government becomes the provider of good."
The bill now heads to the House for consideration with five legislative days left in the 2026 session.
The bill is also supported by two Republican candidates for attorney general.
"I strongly support Senator Barfoot's efforts to remedy failed Democrat policies that have turned once-vibrant communities into lawless war zones. If any municipality can't or won't protect its citizens from crime, the State has a duty to intervene. Every Alabamian—no matter their zip code—has the right to live in safety," former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell, a Republican candidate for AG, told 1819 News.
Katherine Robertson, who is opposing Mitchell, told 1819 News, "This is a much-needed debate about the state's role in ensuring that our capital city is safe. Sen. Barfoot has been dogged in his desire to deliver this for his city, and I applaud him for it."
"While a local solution is certainly preferable, I'm not convinced Mayor Reed is up to the task," she added.
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