Lieutenant Richard Haluska has been a member of the Birmingham Police Department for 14 years. He began his tenure with the department in 2009. He has worked on various assignments within the Patrol Bureau during his tenure. He has lived in the City of Birmingham for his entire career. He is making his job more personal as he is invested in making the City of Birmingham a great place to live.
As an Officer with Birmingham, he started his career at the East Precinct. He worked diligently and served on the East Task Force and the Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET). He was promoted in 2015 to a Sergeant. he worked in the South Precinct as a shift commander, and from 2016-2018, he was over the South Task Force. Then, in 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He served as the Morning Shift Commander at West Precinct until August 2022, when he went to North Precinct as the Evening Patrol Shift Commander, where he currently serves the community.
Lieutenant Haluska is enrolled in school to obtain his Master of Public Administration Emergency Services Management. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree (Criminal Justice) from Columbia Southern University, where he graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. He has an Associate Degree in Science (criminal justice) from Jefferson State Community College, where in 2011, he made the President’s List for Academic Excellence. Finally, he holds an Associate of Applied Science (Intelligence Operation Studies) from Cochise College. He has an extensive list of certifications due to the value he continues to place on being a lifetime learner. He also has several commendations, partially to include a meritorious unit citation and a life-saving medal. These highlight his passion for Serving and Protecting the citizens of Birmingham.
Lieutenant Haluska is a member of the Alabama National Guard and currently is a Chief Warrant Officer. He has served as the President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #1 from 2018 to 2020. He oversaw Officers with several agencies within the State of Alabama and helped build better community relationships where they served. The Fraternal Order of Police is one of Alabama’s largest collaborations of law enforcement professionals. During his tenure at the FOP, he partnered with Academy Sports and The Birmingham Boys and Girls Club to have officers take several underprivileged young members shopping and give them gift certificates to help them have a brighter Christmas.
Lieutenant Haluska leads from the front. He believes that it is the most effective way to be a leader. He strives to better himself and his subordinates, priding himself as a mentor to those who work with him. He is building subordinates so that they can fill his spot as he moves up; they, too, will be able to advance. He continually pushes himself to maintain the highest level of proficiency in his duties. He believes everyone needs to constantly set higher goals to mentally and physically prepare for future challenges. Being a sound leader is something he takes pride in.
