William Gaut

William T. Gaut is a criminal justice consultant and former investigator, administrator and instructor for the Birmingham Police Department.

Gaut earned his associate's degree in law enforcement at Jefferson State Community College in 1974 and a bachelor of science in criminal justice at UAB in 1989. He later completed a master of arts in public and private management at Birmingham-Southern College in 1992, and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Northcentral University of San Diego, California in 2011.

Gaut joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1968 and worked as a patrol officer. After being promoted to detective sergeant he investigated major crimes. Then as first sergeant he began teaching in the department's police academy, leading classes in police practice, procedures, investigation and supervision. He advised the state in the development of the Alabama Minimum Standards and Training for Police Officers. In the mid 1980s, as Administrative Staff Commander, Gaut supervised the construction of the new Birmingham City Jail, and worked with Lee Hitchcock to develop new jail policies and train staff. During his tenure the department was accredited by the Virginia-based Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

In the 1970s Gaut and Albert Wallace founded the Security Training Institute, which provided credentialed instruction for security personnel. That business was dissolved in 1999.

After leaving the department retiring from the department as Captain of Detectives in 1992 he spent two years with the Special Services Division of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, reviewing administrative procedures and organizing a financial crimes investigative division.

In 1994 Gaut was hired by RaDiUs Motorsports of Denver, North Carolina as general manager and CEO. When the partnership split, he remained with Jasper Motorsports. In 1997 he joined the faculty at Jefferson State Community College as an adjunct professor. In retirement he resides in Naples, Florida and consults on law enforcement policies and testifies as an expert witness in court cases.