Montgomery Mayor Warns State Bill Could Shift Control of City Police Chief to State

Mayor Steven Reed said a bill circulating in the Alabama Legislature could strip Montgomery residents of local control over the city police chief and described the proposal as an overreach that would undermine local accountability.

"Pretty much the state would take control over our police chief," Reed said during a recorded interview with host Daryl Hall. Reed said the measure — which he identified as sponsored by state senator Will Barfoot of Pike Road — would allow the state to assume control if a local police department did not meet certain staffing levels.

Why it matters: Reed framed the bill as a change to how public safety would be governed in cities like Montgomery, arguing that decisions about police leadership should remain local. He told listeners that many residents and local leaders were unaware the provision had been proposed and said that the choice to centralize that authority would remove a layer of local oversight and voice.

Reed said the bill was advanced without adequate engagement from local officials. "I didn't know. The police chief didn't know. The state senator Kirk Hatcher didn't know," he said, describing the measure as a surprise to local stakeholders. He called the proposal "a power grab" and said the state had not offered concrete help — such as funding for signing bonuses, vehicles or technology — to address the staffing shortfalls the bill cited.

Reed urged alternative approaches, suggesting that if the state wanted to improve policing it could fund recruitment or equipment rather than take control of local appointments. He told listeners that state lawmakers could, for example, pay for signing bonuses or technology to address retention and recruitment problems.

Reed also positioned his warning as a call to civic engagement. "Democracy has to be fought for every day," he said, urging residents to follow the proposal and to vote when legislative opportunities arise.

What the record shows: The interview identifies state senator Will Barfoot as the sponsor and mentions state senator Kirk Hatcher as a local lawmaker who had not been aware of the language when Reed spoke. The interview does not include the bill text, the specific staffing thresholds, or a formal response from the bill sponsor or the legislature; Reed described the bill's effect in practice and noted that he had not seen an offer of direct state funding tied to the proposal.

Next steps: Reed said he expected pushback from the city and encouraged continued public attention and engagement with the state legislature as it considers the measure.