'Make Birmingham the safest city in America': Crime Commission hopes to curb homicide problem
The Birmingham Crime Commission presented its report Monday which it calls a road map to make the city safer.
It comes as the city sees a deadly start to the new year -- with already two homicides in Birmingham.
Video above: Watch the full news conference.
The city is also coming off a record-setting deadly 2024.
Birmingham recorded 151 total homicides which would give it 77 per 100,000 residents.
That rate would rival some of the world's deadliest cities, base on the most recent data.
Last year, homicides dropped nearly 40 percent in both Baltimore and Phoenix, while jumping about 20 percent in Birmingham.
A details the city's findings including studies from other major cities that have reduced their violent crime and homicides.
Some key categories mentioned were getting Glock switches off the streets and working on recruitment and retention with the police department.
"The collective commission developed this vision with the with the guidance of the community to help make Birmingham the safest city in America," Commission Co-Chair Lee Styslinger said.
The city also plans to enhance lighting and cameras around the city with hopes to effect that change immediately.
"This is a good report that will stand the test of time. It's not based on theory. It's based on let's get out here and do something and get to work," former Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper said.
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