Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has been named the 2026 Crime Stopper of the Year by Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, an honor recognizing his administration’s efforts to reduce crime and strengthen public safety.
The award was presented during the Crime Stoppers of the Year annual luncheon at the Finley Center in Hoover, where more than 650 people attended.
The Crime Stopper of the Year Award is presented annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to fighting crime and supporting Crime Stoppers programs.
“Whether you’re an individual or a business, we all want our communities to be safer,” said Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama Board Chairman J. Frank Barefield Jr. “This year, we’re recognizing Mayor Woodfin for his ongoing efforts and policies to reduce crime and make Metro Birmingham a better place to live for everyone.”
Crime Stoppers credited Woodfin’s administration with several public safety initiatives, including a reported 50% year-over-year reduction in homicides, a $15.8 million investment in recruiting and retaining Birmingham police officers, construction of a $12 million Real-Time Crime Center, the recovery and tracing of nearly 5,000 illegal guns and the creation of the Drug Nuisance Abatement Team to hold neglectful property owners accountable for illegal dumping and blight.
The Birmingham Police Department reported in June that the city had recorded 17 homicides through June 1, compared with 34 during the same period in 2025, matching the 50% year-over-year reduction highlighted by Crime Stoppers.
“I’m honored to receive this recognition from Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, but this award belongs to everyone who is committed to making our city safer, from our police officers and first responders to neighborhood leaders, community organizations, and residents who choose courage over silence,” Woodfin said.
“Public safety is a shared responsibility, and when people trust one another enough to speak up, work together, and invest in their neighborhoods, we build stronger, safer communities. While we’ve made meaningful progress, our work isn’t finished, and we’ll continue doing everything we can to protect the people who call Birmingham home.”
Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is a nonprofit organization that serves as a bridge between law enforcement and the community by accepting anonymous tips and offering cash rewards for information that leads to arrests. The organization says tipsters remain 100% anonymous.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
