The leadership of the Birmingham City Council responded to the September 21 Five Points South mass shooting, saying enough is enough.
Council President Darrell O'Quinn, President Pro Tem Wardine Alexander and Public Safety chair LaTonya Tate released a joint statement claiming they will provide additional resources to law enforcement following the "brazen and reckless act of violence."
"These brave men and women put themselves in harm's way every day to ensure our neighborhoods are safe and that the criminal elements that lurk here are being put on notice," the statement read.
"Unfortunately, we cannot legislate morality nor can we snap our fingers and rid ourselves of bad actors and illegal firearms," the statement continued. "What we can do is approve additional resources, funding and support for our law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations that are on the frontlines."
The City has seen "promising results" with the Operation Knight Rider and Project Safe Streets initiatives, which have been in place for several months. The police department also implemented a $15.8 million recruitment and retention plan and a hospital-based intervention program.
"This is the beginning of a new chapter for our city," the statement read. "Gone are the days when violent criminals think they can go unchecked in Birmingham. Point blank: if you pull a trigger to settle a dispute, you're going to be caught and brought to justice. We promise you that."
The council leadership and Tate said they are pleased to hear that police arrested a suspect in connection to the mass shooting. However, they said there is still a lot of work ahead to bring justice to families impacted by multiple recent homicides.
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