State Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) called for Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch to resign after he said deadly force would be met with deadly force if things were to get out of control at a planned rally over the weekend. However, that statement did not sit well with many, including the executive director of the Alabama Sheriffs Association.
Burch made the comments on FM Talk 106.5 when he was asked how law enforcement would handle riots such as the ones ongoing in Los Angeles. The riots have turned violent, with some protesters throwing Molotov cocktails and large rocks at police.
"I saw some of the fire bombs being thrown," Burch said. "That's deadly force. And our policy is you meet deadly force with deadly force."
This weekend, "No Kings" anti-Trump and pro-immigration rallies are planned across the nation, including one in Mobile.
Burch told 1819 News the question asked was a hypothetical question about how his agency would handle violent riots. He said he stands behind his answer, and if that were to happen in Mobile County, his deputies would respond to get control of the situation and to restore law and order.
However, Figures called on him to resign, seemingly believing Burch threatened to use force during a peaceful protest.
"As long as those protests are peaceful, then there should be no reason for him to show deadly force," Figures stated to Fox 10 News. "If that is how he feels, then maybe he should resign. If he can't act with a cool head to have strategy and how to deal with these types of situations, then maybe he should resign."
Former Baldwin County Sheriff, now the executive director of the Alabama Sheriffs Association, Huey "Hoss" Mack, fired back at Figures on a FM 106.5 Facebook post, saying, "The Senator has one of the lowest attendance rates in the legislature when in session. If anyone should resign, it should be her."
Several comments on the thread were in support of Burch, and some were critical of Figures.
"She might try to do something to help stop the killing in the Mobile area," Ken Gardner wrote. "Seems she only shows up to get publicity, criticizing something. How about trying something positive?"
"I stand with the sheriff," responded Kay Crenshaw Ballard. "He works hard for the county and doesn't hold back!"
"She twisted his words," added Karen Staton.
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