Grand jury report recommends removal of Prichard police chief, cites mishandled evidence and governance failures

A staff member read a Mobile County grand jury report dated 07/21/2026 that recommended removal of Prichard Police Chief Walter Knight and structural overhaul of the Prichard Police Department.

“The grand jury of Mobile County hereby issues this report regarding the Prichard Police Department based on evidence presented,” the staff member read aloud, listing indictments and findings that included alleged misuse of equipment and time and the return of indictments against Chief Walter Knight and Major Aaron Tucker. The report said those indictments allege use of city time and equipment for private funeral-related side jobs and charged the officers with theft in the second degree.

The grand jury also documented multiple concerns about evidence handling: weapons, drugs and assault kits were listed as having been improperly stored; several felony prosecutions were described as dismissed or compromised because complaints were not signed or evidence was not submitted to the state forensic lab. The report states the Mobile County District Attorney has requested the Mobile County Sheriff to assume day-to-day law-enforcement duties in Prichard to protect residents while issues are addressed.

Council members reacted during the meeting. One council member said the grand jury’s findings were serious and urged bringing in outside consultants and accredited management to rebuild trust and operations. Another council member cautioned the council that it does not have unilateral authority to remove the chief: as the staff member explained, state law limits the council’s removal powers and generally vests removal authority with the mayor or through statutory processes.

The council president said the report was being taken “not lightly” and that the council had asked the city attorney to draft appropriate next steps; she also noted the council had not yet received an official response from the mayor’s office. The report’s recommendation that the council begin proceedings under Ala. Code §11-43-160 was read aloud and matters were left pending legal review and coordination with the mayor’s office and the sheriff’s office.

Next steps spelled out at the meeting: the council has the report on record, will await or request the mayor’s position, and discussed retaining consultants and accreditation guidance (the report references the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) to restructure or rebuild department operations if recommended.

The meeting did not produce a council vote to remove any official; council members said they would pursue legal and administrative follow-up consistent with state law and the grand jury’s recommendations.