Birmingham police department now at 80% with officer staffing

The police department sees an increase interest in recruits and laterals since November 2024

The police department sees an increase interest in recruits and laterals since November 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

There are some new faces of recruits hoping to join the next summer academy class with the Birmingham Police Department, but there's one thing standing in their way. That's passing the physical agility test required to become an officer.

"My only weakness was the pushups, but I’m getting there. I’ll find a way. I’ll do it,” Naomi Magun, a recruit, said.

Mary Harris, also a recruit, added, "I failed the first one, came back a week or two later. I did it a second time, and they recommended the GRIT program because I passed everything except the pushups."

At 5 a.m. almost every weekday