Wendell Major
Wendell Warren Major (born c. 1965) is a a former Captain in the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and chief of the Tarrant Police Department.
Major is the older brother of former State Representative Eric Major. He graduated from Fairfield High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1983, serving with the 4th Battalion, 14th Marines and as part of the 4th Force Support Squadron. He attained the rank of Marine Sergeant.
After beginning his career in law enforcement with the Georgia Department of Corrections, he transferred to the UAB Police Department and then to the Fairfield Police Department. Major joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in 1989. He rose to the rank captain in the Technology Division, working out of the Metro Area Crime Center. He left that position to accept an offer from Tarrant mayor Wayman Newton to take over leadership of the department after chief Dennis Reno resigned following a public dispute.
Major earned a bachelor of science in criminal justice at UAB in 2002 and a juris doctorate from Birmingham School of Law in 2006. He has also taught criminal justice and paralegal classes for ITT Technical Institute and undergone specialist training at the FBI National Academy. He also worked with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs as a mentor to the Afghan National Police.
Major ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 Democratic primary to represent Alabama Senate District 19. In the 2017 Birmingham municipal election he qualified for the vacant Birmingham City Council Birmingham City Council District 9 seat left when Marcus Lundy announced he would not seek re-election.
Major was relieved of his duties by Mayor Newton on April 26, 2023. Sergeant Cynthia Morrow took over as interim chief. The Tarrant City Council reinstated Major on May 1. On November 11 Newton again put Major on administrative leave, accusing him of mishandling criminal cases. Newton failed to get Judge Patrick Ballard to issue an emergency stay preventing the council from reversing his decision. On November 18 the council reinstated Major to his position.
Major and his wife Tawanna have two children and three grandchildren. He volunteers with the parking ministry at Faith Chapel Christian Center.
References
- Daniel, J. H. (July 6, 2017) "Birmingham, meet Wendell Major, a District 9 candidate for city council" Bham Now
- Robinson, Carol (August 6, 2021) "Veteran lawman named first Black police chief in Tarrant." The Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (April 27, 2023) "Tarrant mayor puts police chief on administrative leave in latest city government controversy." AL.com
- Robinson, Carol (May 2, 2023) "Tarrant reinstates suspended police chief: Mayor says council members ‘do not like me .. It’s mutual’." AL.com
- Robinson, Carol (November 13, 2023) "Tarrant mayor again suspends police chief after I-59 shootout, toddler’s fatal overdose." AL.com
- Bryant, Joseph D. & Carol Robinson (November 17, 2023) "Discord rages in Jefferson County city with suspended police chief and ongoing lawsuits among leaders." AL.com
- Bryant, Joseph (November 21, 2023) "Police chief returned to duty, but fighting continues in Tarrant: ‘It’s embarrassing.’." AL.com