MONTGOMERY, AL – Tensions flared during a recent Montgomery City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting as officials clashed over the best approach to recruit officers for the understaffed Montgomery Police Department (MPD). Police Chief Jim Graboys and Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham joined the discussion, which quickly grew heated over competing proposals to bolster the force.
A Clash of Ideas
Councilman Glen Pruitt and Chief of Staff Jerime Reid engaged in a heated exchange over recruitment strategies. Pruitt advocated for MPD to access the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) applicant pool through a potential interagency agreement. Meanwhile, Reid pushed for lateral hiring, recruiting already-trained officers from other departments, including those in northern states, through targeted ad campaigns highlighting the benefits of relocating to the South.
Councilwoman Marche Johnson supported Reid’s approach, stating, “Lateral hires are the best idea because they already have experience and training. Where it takes six to nine months to train a new hire, a lateral transfer would be much faster.” – (source: WSFA)
Pruitt, however, insisted that the city should pursue both strategies simultaneously. “We need to hire whoever we can to patrol our streets,” he argued. “People are angry, they’re pissed off.” – (source: WSFA)
Opposition from Law Enforcement Leadership
Chief Graboys and Sheriff Cunningham expressed reservations about Pruitt’s proposal. Graboys emphasized avoiding competition with the county for recruits, while Cunningham suggested such an agreement might require state legislative approval, a claim later disputed in the editorial analysis.
Editor’s Perspective: A Dual Approach Is Necessary
Over the past five years, the Montgomery City Council has approved three budget increases for MPD, raising its annual funding from $60 million in 2019 to $72.5 million in 2024. Yet, officer growth remains sluggish, leaving citizens frustrated with persistent crime concerns.
In this debate, Councilman Pruitt is correct: the city should combine both recruitment strategies to maximize results. While lateral hiring brings immediate experience, new hires, though requiring longer training, are a necessary investment in long-term staffing. Dismissing one approach for the other ignores the urgency of the situation. Progress takes time, but both methods can coexist to strengthen MPD’s ranks.
As for Sheriff Cunningham’s claim about legislative approval, it’s misleading. Alabama law already permits intergovernmental agreements between city and county agencies. The Montgomery City Council and County Commission could approve such a deal without state involvement, unless it involves state funds, creates new legal authority, or conflicts with employment laws.
Montgomery needs all hands on deck to address its policing shortage. Rather than limiting options, the city should leverage every available tool to put more officers on the streets quickly and sustainably.