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Acting Chief Sanders reports lower homicides, new logistics building, drone expansion and recruitment push
Summary
Acting Chief Sanders told the council homicide counts were at zero year‑to‑date and outlined investments including a logistics building, expanded drone operations (including a tethered drone), a cadet recruitment program and purchase of five canine protective vests funded by a grant.
Acting Chief Sanders told the Tuscaloosa City Council that the department’s homicide count stood at zero year-to-date and reviewed other crime trends, staffing and new equipment purchases.
"If y'all look ... homicide last year, we was up 2 this time, and right now we're at 0," Sanders said, contrasting 2025 and 2026 figures. He reported other violent‑crime trends the department is tracking, including a reduction in felony assaults involving a firearm (from four to one, as stated in the report) and a small increase in attempts to murder.
Sanders described operational investments: a logistics building to store equipment (moving in early March), new nighttime signage at the Power Gym, and technology upgrades. On drones, he said the department and partners fly roughly 204 drone flights per month with the police unit conducting about 148 of those flights; the department has hired one drone pilot and is piloting a tethered drone that "can stay up" and whose battery "lasts for 24 hours," a capability intended for prolonged incident response.
To address staffing, Sanders promoted a cadet program aimed at recruiting 18‑ to 21‑year‑olds from local high schools and the University of Alabama and described current recruitment numbers: Sanders said there are 17 vacancies on the department’s roster, several applicants in the hiring process, two lateral hires and roughly 20 applicants scheduled for upcoming physical tests. In response to a council question about the vacancy base, Sanders confirmed the count as 17 (the transcript does not clearly identify the baseline used to compute that figure).
Sanders also reported equipment acquisitions funded by grants, including five U.S.-made bullet- and stab-resistant vests for the canine unit with five-year warranties, and noted recent certifications for Officers Hunt and Van Wig. He closed by noting community engagement events such as a spring basketball tournament and an ongoing assist cabinet class with about 30 attendees.
A council member thanked Sanders and the council moved on after the report.
