Mayor Woodfin says $16 million recruitment investment is producing applicants; city set recruitment and academy dates

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin provided the council with an update on the recruitment portion of a previously approved $16 million recruitment and retention plan for the Birmingham Police Department.

Woodfin said 111 people have shown interest and taken the physical agility screening since the recruitment program began Nov. 16, 2024. He broke the screening results down by date: Nov. 16 had 23 participants (7 passed, 16 failed); Dec. 14 had 45 participants (29 passed, 16 failed); and Jan. 18 had 43 participants (22 passed, 21 failed). "As you see from each class, those numbers got better, as relates to the rate," Woodfin said.

Woodfin said there are currently 52 candidates being vetted for the March police academy class and 28 recruits currently in the class that began in November. He added that 10 recruits graduated two weeks earlier and 10 officers are being vetted as lateral transfers; the laterals are not included in the 111 screened applicants. The mayor announced 2025 academy start dates of March 25, July 29 and Nov. 18, and said another agility test and screening would be held on Jan. 25 at 8 a.m. at the Police Academy.

In response to council questions, staff said the Police Academy offers remedial training and free workouts to help applicants who initially fail the agility test prepare to retake it. An academy trainer was described as offering six‑month training plans where needed.

The mayor said written documentation of the numbers he provided would be distributed to council offices following the meeting.