Largest Rookie Class in 4 Years Graduates From Birmingham Police Department

By Tristan Ruppert WBRC Eighteen students graduated from the Birmingham Police Academy Friday. The class was so big Birmingham Police Department moved the event to Bill Harris Arena. The graduating class is also the department’s largest since April of 2020. “I decided to take this path because I do love my community. I love the city of Birmingham. I just want to be a part of the solution,” said new Birmingham Police Officer Jessyka Patterson. Over a dozen families came out to Bill Harris Arena Friday morning to support a loved one. Police Chief Scott Thurmond was thrilled with the size of the graduating class and believes several have bright futures in Birmingham. Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond “I hate to talk about myself but I am a shining example. I came up through the department, rose to the rank of Chief of Police. So the sky is the limit for these men and women who just graduated today. So I just look forward to seeing what they are going to do during their careers and them serving the citizens of Birmingham,” said Thurmond. The class also comes at a time of great need. Police departments all around the country...