Media Release 6- New Year’s Eve “Operation Crackdown” Follow Up
New Year’s Eve “Operation Crackdown” Follow Up
Operation Crackdown
On New Year’s Eve, the Birmingham Police Department deployed nearly 80 additional officers to enhance community safety during one of the world’s most widely celebrated holidays. This initiative, known as Operation Crackdown, highlights our commitment to proactive policing. Officers from the Birmingham Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and ALEA state troopers sacrificed time with their families to protect our community.
Although our city experienced a fair amount of celebratory gunfire and fireworks, the strategic deployment of additional officers enabled swift responses, as they were either able to respond to incidents after hearing gunshots firsthand or at times, responded within seconds after a call was dispatched. Officers were actively present in neighborhoods and effectively positioned to address incidents promptly. As a result, Birmingham’s 911 dispatchers reported a 64% reduction in calls for police response related to shots fired.
Also, we would like to highlight our appreciation for and partnership with Birmingham Fire and Rescue, who trained two of our BPD Officers that are Tactical Medics who quickly responded to our city’s first critical situation of the new year. Their quick response and on-scene lifesaving interventions provided emergency care to two assault victims there suffering from severe injuries.
Enforcement Actions
Our team coordinated with business owners and managers of several major nightclubs and bars that attracted large crowds. These establishments assisted our efforts by closing before 2:00 AM to minimize potential incidents as the city transitioned into the new year. BPD officers were present during the dispersal of crowds to ensure safety.
The Business Compliance Unit and Special Enforcement Division detectives conducted raids on two illegally operating nightclubs, resulting in two arrests—one for felony drug charges and the other for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Overall, officers made five arrests, which included charges for felony drug offenses, possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of disorderly conduct, and attempting to elude law enforcement.
During the operation, officers seized 11 firearms related to illegal activities, such as discharging a firearm within city limits, altering firearm serial numbers, and felony assault.
The Operation Knight Rider component of Operation Crackdown saw ZERO reports of exhibition driving in our city. We hope our messaging and deployment of resources led to this result. We were fully prepared and ready to engage.
The Birmingham Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center assisted officers by:
– Monitoring dispatched locations and providing real-time guidance on what to expect upon arrival.
– Issuing BOLOs (Be On the Lookout) for potential suspects and tracking their movements before officers arrive.
– Offering actionable intelligence, such as suspect behaviors during incidents, which aided ongoing investigations.
-Interim Chief Michael Pickett
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Click to print. Media Release 6- New Year’s Eve Operation Crackdown
