The Birmingham City Council meeting on August 19, 2025, highlighted significant progress in the city's police recruitment efforts. Mayor Randall Woodfin provided an update on the recruitment and retention plan, initially supported by the council last October with a budget of over $16 million.

Since January, the Birmingham Police Department has successfully hired approximately 100 officers, with the latest class of 48 graduates completing their training on August 8. Mayor Woodfin announced that a new police academy class began on August 18, consisting of 93 recruits, nearly doubling the size of the previous class. This surge in recruitment is attributed to the leadership of Chief Pickett and Deputy Chief Malden, as well as the council's ongoing support for the recruitment initiative.

The mayor expressed gratitude for the council's backing, emphasizing the importance of these efforts in enhancing public safety. He acknowledged the rigorous training that the new recruits will undergo, marking a significant step in bolstering the police force.

The meeting concluded without additional announcements or nominations for boards and agencies, focusing primarily on the positive developments within the police department.