Tuscaloosa mayor appoints Brent Blakely as executive director of public safety; Deputy Chief Sanders named acting police chief

The mayor announced the appointment of Chief Brent Blakely as Tuscaloosa’s executive director of public safety, saying, "I am proud to announce the appointment of chief Brent Blakely as the new executive director of public safety." The appointment is set to take effect Jan. 19.

The mayor framed the move as a response to growing demands on city safety services, noting that "41¢ out of every dollar that we spend at the city of Tuscaloosa is invested into our public safety sector." He listed five reasons for the appointment — including Blakely’s work ethic, commitment to accountability, ability to learn and adapt, passion for innovation, and dedication to the city.

Blakely, who addressed the committee after the announcement, thanked the mayor and members and said he would continue to work with police, fire and other departments to keep the city safe as he closes a 20-year run in his current department. "As I close out my law enforcement career of 20 years with the department, I promise you I'll work just as hard as the director of public sector," he said.

The mayor said Blakely’s new role will create a vacancy at the Tuscaloosa Police Department and asked the committee to confirm Deputy Chief Cboe Sanders as acting chief with council confirmation planned for Jan. 27. Sanders, described by the mayor as having risen through patrol, SWAT and narcotics and as the leader of community outreach operations, addressed the committee and reaffirmed his commitment to continuity: "What I can assure the community is that Tuscaloosa Police Department will remain as needed ... that makes me very proud to be his colleague."

The mayor also presented a timeline for hiring a permanent police chief: the position will be posted Jan. 14–Feb. 13, the selection committee will interview candidates the week of March, final interviews with the mayor are scheduled March 23–27, and the goal is an announcement by mid-April, though the mayor described that schedule as a target subject to change.

The committee offered unanimous congratulations in the meeting; no formal committee vote to confirm the appointments is recorded in the transcript for today’s meeting. The next procedural step noted in the discussion is council confirmation for Sanders on Jan. 27 and the posted hiring timeline for the permanent chief.