NCJ Number
41578
Journal
Police Magazine Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 27-44
Date Published
1977
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE LOOKS AT HOW THE BIRMINGHAM (AL) POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS TURNED AROUND FROM ITS 1963 IMAGE AS A MAJOR BATTLEFIELD IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE TO WIN PRAISE FROM BLACKS AND WHITES ALIKE.
Abstract
CIVIC LEADERS GIVE MOST OF THE CREDIT FOR THE TURNAROUND IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO JAMES C. PARSONS, WHO IN 1972 AT THE AGE OF 38 BECAME ONE OF THE YOUNGEST CHIEFS OF A MAJOR DEPARTMENT IN THE NATION. UNDER PARSONS, RELATIONS WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAVE IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY, WORKING CONDITIONS AND SALARIES FOR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED, MODERN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED, AND RIGID STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR HAVE BEEN SET, WITH A NUMBER OF OFFICERS BEING DISCIPLINED FOR VIOLATING THEM. THE COMPOSITION OF THE BIRMINGHAM DEPARTMENT HAS CHANGED AS WELL. MORE THAN HALF OF THE SWORN OFFICERS HAVE JOINED SINCE 1968, MORE THAN 60 PER CENT HAVE HAD SOME COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, AND THERE ARE 26 WOMEN OFFICERS AND 40 BLACKS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 659 SWORN OFFICERS. THE EFFECT THAT THESE CHANGES HAVE HAD ON THE UNIFORMED SERVICES, THE DETECTIVE DIVISION, CENTRAL SERVICES, CRIME, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, RACIAL TENSIONS, POLICE CORRUPTION, POLICE MORALE, AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED....ELW