Housing Authority of the Birmingham District makes $2 million investment into police task force

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — The Birmingham City Council has approved a renewal of an agreement with the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District that will provide housing authority properties with a police task force and community policing programs.

Residents said they were excited about the program’s renewal. They said since the program started in 2019, communities have gotten safer, and the perception of police is changing.

The housing authority is making a $2 million investment with the deal. HABD Director of Public Safety Ken Foreman said it’s money well spent.

“There’s no price you can put on safety,” Foreman said. “The reason for that is one person that gets harmed by crime is one person too many.”

The agreement focuses on community policing. Foreman said he hopes officers can form personal relationships with residents that lead to a decline in crime.

“Officers just don’t patrol the properties,” Foreman said. “They get out of their cars, walk the beats, talk to residents.”

The Birmingham Police Department will provide a lieutenant, sergeant and up to seven police officers to form a task force that focuses on serving housing authority communities.

“The $2 million will go forward in reimbursing the city for the officers’ salaries — also maintenance and fuel for the vehicles,” Foreman said.

According to residents, the program is having a real impact. Bertha Manning has lived in Freedom Manor for 13 years. She said the program has been great for the entire building.

“It’s a good thing, and they do come by just to visit, and that’s really great,” Manning said. “That’s really great.”

The program also has programs like conversations over pizza, which gives residents a chance to sit down with officers and discuss anything they would like to about their communities.

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