Scott Thurmond

Scott Thurmond (born c. 1963 in Tuscaloosa) is the current Chief of the Birmingham Police Department.

Thurmond graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1997 with a bachelor of science in sociology and a minor in political science. He joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1998.

He began his career working as a patrolman and field training officer in the North Precinct until 2005, and then transferred to the burglary unit of the Investigative Bureau in the East Precinct. He returned to patrol bureau, in the West Precinct, as a sergeant for the morning shift. From 2008 to 2013 he worked in the homicide unit, and was promoted to lieutenant in 2013 and given command of the day shift in the South Precinct. He was brought back to the homicide unit as its commander in 2015 and took command of the newly-formed Robbery/Homicide Division in 2018.

Thurmond was promoted to the rank of Captain in 2019 and served as commander of the West Precinct, and later assigned as executive assistant to the deputy chief of the Investigation Bureau. Thurmond was appointed to serve as interim chief after the resignation of Patrick Smith in January 2022. He was appointed by Mayor Randall Woodfin to lead the department on a permanent basis effective June 24.

Preceded by: Patrick Smith

Chief of Birmingham Police Department June 24, 2022–

Succeeded by: current

References

• Robinson, Carol (June 2, 2022) "Birmingham mayor names Scott Thurmond permanent police chief." The Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (October 17, 2022) "Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond faces spike in homicides: ‘We’re destroying ourselves’." The Birmingham News