The Montgomery Police Department held a press conference on Tuesday to address a string of violent incidents over the past week and outline ongoing efforts to reduce crime in the city.
Chief of Police James Grayboys opened the briefing by acknowledging the purpose of the event.
“One of the things I’m going to be talking about today is the fact that this conference that we called is actually going to be a recurring event,” said Grayboys. “We are going to start making sure that we are doing at least once a month a news conference to make sure that we are keeping people advised and informed about some of the things that are going on at the Montgomery Police Department.”
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Grayboys made clear his department’s stance on recent violence.
“This news conference is making it very clear that our police department will not tolerate violent behavior in the City of Montgomery,” he said.
Over the five-day span from July 10 through July 14, the department responded to several shootings, including three homicides. On July 10, 15-year-old Brantley McNabb was shot and killed in the 1100 block of Air Base Boulevard.
“I am very confident that we will be holding an individual accountable in relation to this offense,” Grayboys said.
On July 12, two related shootings claimed the lives of Malik Benson, 27, and Keith Watley, 26. Benson was located in the 400 block of North California Street, and Watley in the 17,000 block of Upper Wetumpka Road.
Also on July 12, officers responded to three additional shootings — one victim on Fitzpatrick Boulevard suffered life-threatening injuries during what Grayboys described as “conducting a violent felony.” Two others on Ann Street sustained non-life-threatening injuries but refused to cooperate with police or press charges.
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On July 14, police arrested 21-year-old Tavoris Burt after an officer-involved shooting. Burt fled a traffic stop, fired at a pursuing officer during a foot chase, and was apprehended without injury. He is charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.
Grayboys emphasized the department’s resolve in the face of such incidents.
“You shoot at us, we are going to get you. It’s that simple,” he said.
The chief also shared statistics illustrating progress in reducing violent crime.
“We have been bringing violent crime down by over 28% year over year since last year. That’s the truth. That’s the numbers,” he said. In the last 60 days, officers have seized 376 illegal guns and closed 112 felony cases, including arrests for rape, robbery, and homicide.
Grayboys also noted ongoing challenges, including repeat offenders out on bond and stolen guns from unlocked vehicles. He urged community involvement and underscored the importance of partnerships with organizations like VOCAL and the Family Justice Center to improve communication with victims.
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On staffing, Grayboys said the department is actively recruiting new officers, with more graduates joining the ranks later this month and a larger academy class planned for November.
“We are moving in the right direction, and we are getting more boots-on-the-ground officers actually out there,” he said.
Addressing concerns about downtown safety, Grayboys pointed to increased patrols and expanded camera coverage.
“We are down there heavily. We want people to be able to go downtown and have a nice time with their families.”
He concluded by reiterating the department’s mission.
“We are not going to stop until we bring these numbers not only way down, but we’re going to keep going until they’re zero. And I don’t think there’s one police officer who doesn’t agree with me on that.”
The department will continue to provide updates at monthly press briefings going forward.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
