Patrick Smith: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
After the retirement of [[A. C. Roper]], incoming [[Mayor of Birmingham]] [[Randall Woodfin]] launched a national search for a new police chief. Smith was selected over deputy chief [[Henry Irby]] and Malik Aziz of Dallas, Texas. [[Allen Treadaway]] was appointed to the new position of Assistant Chief. | After the retirement of [[A. C. Roper]], incoming [[Mayor of Birmingham]] [[Randall Woodfin]] launched a national search for a new police chief. Smith was selected over deputy chief [[Henry Irby]] and Malik Aziz of Dallas, Texas. [[Allen Treadaway]] was appointed to the new position of Assistant Chief. | ||
As chief, Smith has instituted several measures intended to increase police visibility, support effective investigations, and react quickly to crime "hot spots" with enhanced surveillance and checkpoints. He combined the homicide and robbery detectives' units into a "Crimes against Persons Division", changed the patrol schedule to four ten-hour shifts overlapping during high-crime periods, and implemented the "PredPol" predictive software platform to analyze time and location data from crime reports as a means of forecasting when and where resources will be most needed. | As chief, Smith has instituted several measures intended to increase police visibility, support effective investigations, and react quickly to crime "hot spots" with enhanced surveillance and checkpoints. He combined the homicide and robbery detectives' units into a "Crimes against Persons Division", changed the patrol schedule to four ten-hour shifts overlapping during high-crime periods, and implemented the "PredPol" predictive software platform to analyze time and location data from crime reports as a means of forecasting when and where resources will be most needed. | ||
Smith brought his experience with programs for public housing communities in Los Angeles into negotiations for a "Community Safety Partnership" (CSP) with the [[Housing Authority of the Birmingham District]] in [[2019]]. The $3.6 million program contract includes increased police presence and community engagement. In [[2020]] the CSP was credited with a 55% decrease in crime at [[Elyton Village]], along with smaller reductions in other communities. | |||
Smith has lauded the success of the [[Jefferson County Metro Area Crime Center]] in coordinating the work of various local law enforcement agencies. | |||
{{Start box}} | {{Start box}} | ||
{{Succession box | title=[[List of Birmingham police chiefs|Chief of Birmingham Police Department]] | | {{Succession box | title=[[List of Birmingham police chiefs|Chief of Birmingham Police Department]] | | ||
years= [[June 25]], [[2018]] | years= [[June 25]], [[2018]]–present | | ||
before=[[Henry Irby]] (interim) | after=(current) }} | before=[[Henry Irby]] (interim) | after=(current) }} | ||
{{End box}} | {{End box}} | ||
| Line 20: | Line 24: | ||
* Wright, Barnett (June 28, 2018) "[http://www.birminghamtimes.com/2018/06/patrick-smith-takes-command-as-birminghams-new-police-chief/ Patrick Smith takes command as Birmingham’s new police chief]" {{BT}} | * Wright, Barnett (June 28, 2018) "[http://www.birminghamtimes.com/2018/06/patrick-smith-takes-command-as-birminghams-new-police-chief/ Patrick Smith takes command as Birmingham’s new police chief]" {{BT}} | ||
* Prickett, Sam (January 6, 2019) "Police Fight Alabama’s Gun Culture, Stress Gun Safety Education in Effort to Reduce Violent Crime." ''Birmingham Watch'' | * Prickett, Sam (January 6, 2019) "Police Fight Alabama’s Gun Culture, Stress Gun Safety Education in Effort to Reduce Violent Crime." ''Birmingham Watch'' | ||
* Johnson, Roy S. (September 3, 2019) "HABD approves $3.6 million deal with Birmingham PD to protect public-housing residents." {{BN}} | |||
* Wright, Erica (June 19, 2020) "Crime Declines by 19.5% in Birmingham Public Housing, According to BPD Data." {{BT}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Patrick}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Patrick}} | ||
Revision as of 15:37, 19 June 2020
Patrick D. Smith (born c. 1963 in Tuscaloosa) is a former Los Angeles, California police executive, and the current Chief of the Birmingham Police Department.
Smith was the youngest of 13 children born to Jasper and Dorothy Smith, a foundry worker and Head Start teacher, respectively. He grew up attending First African Baptist Church and graduated from Tuscaloosa's Central High School. Afterward he spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including service in Japan and the Philippines. He completed his bachelor of science in business management, as well as a master of arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix.
Smith joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1990. He was promoted training officer in 1994, to field sergeant in 1998, to assistant watch commander in 2001, and to lieutenant and watch commander in 2006. In 2007 Smith was made officer-in-charge of the department's internal affairs section. He was promoted to captain and assigned as a patrol commanding officer in 2010 and to police commander for the 10,000 member force in 2015.
After the retirement of A. C. Roper, incoming Mayor of Birmingham Randall Woodfin launched a national search for a new police chief. Smith was selected over deputy chief Henry Irby and Malik Aziz of Dallas, Texas. Allen Treadaway was appointed to the new position of Assistant Chief.
As chief, Smith has instituted several measures intended to increase police visibility, support effective investigations, and react quickly to crime "hot spots" with enhanced surveillance and checkpoints. He combined the homicide and robbery detectives' units into a "Crimes against Persons Division", changed the patrol schedule to four ten-hour shifts overlapping during high-crime periods, and implemented the "PredPol" predictive software platform to analyze time and location data from crime reports as a means of forecasting when and where resources will be most needed.
Smith brought his experience with programs for public housing communities in Los Angeles into negotiations for a "Community Safety Partnership" (CSP) with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District in 2019. The $3.6 million program contract includes increased police presence and community engagement. In 2020 the CSP was credited with a 55% decrease in crime at Elyton Village, along with smaller reductions in other communities.
Smith has lauded the success of the Jefferson County Metro Area Crime Center in coordinating the work of various local law enforcement agencies.
| Preceded by: Henry Irby (interim) |
Chief of Birmingham Police Department June 25, 2018–present |
Succeeded by: (current) |
References
- Edgemon, Erin (June 4, 2018) "Birmingham mayor names police chief after 5 month search." The Birmingham News
- Robinson, Carol (June 28, 2018) "10 questions with new Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith." The Birmingham News
- Wright, Barnett (June 28, 2018) "Patrick Smith takes command as Birmingham’s new police chief" The Birmingham Times
- Prickett, Sam (January 6, 2019) "Police Fight Alabama’s Gun Culture, Stress Gun Safety Education in Effort to Reduce Violent Crime." Birmingham Watch
- Johnson, Roy S. (September 3, 2019) "HABD approves $3.6 million deal with Birmingham PD to protect public-housing residents." The Birmingham News
- Wright, Erica (June 19, 2020) "Crime Declines by 19.5% in Birmingham Public Housing, According to BPD Data." The Birmingham Times