PRICHARD, Ala. — Prichard City Council President Traci Hale says Mayor Carletta Davis did not notify the council before placing every member of the city’s police department on administrative leave this week — a move that has sharpened tensions inside a city already scrambling over its public-safety future.
In a statement released Wednesday, Hale said she learned of the decision only after it had already been communicated to employees. She said the move raises serious questions about public safety, city finances and communication between the mayor’s administration and the council.
\”I recognize that the Mayor has certain administrative authority and responsibilities,\” Hale said. \”However, as Council President, I also have a responsibility to the citizens of Prichard, particularly when decisions of this magnitude may affect public safety, city finances, and the livelihood of our employees.\”
Entire Department on 30 Days’ Leave
Sources confirmed Tuesday that Davis had placed the department’s remaining officers on 30 days of administrative leave, and Hale’s statement later confirmed that all members of the department were included in the action.
Hale said the council and the public need answers about what the leave means for the affected officers — including their pay, benefits and future employment opportunities — as well as how police services will be maintained while they are off the job.
Sheriff’s Office Still Covering the City
The timing is especially delicate. The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office is currently providing law-enforcement services in Prichard. Sheriff Paul Burch had planned to end that arrangement on Aug. 25 but pushed the deadline to Sept. 4 after Davis publicly said she was working on a plan to reduce some of the financial cost the Sheriff’s Office has been absorbing.
Burch said Tuesday he was not aware of the mayor’s decision before it was made. Later that night, he declined to comment on the action or whether it could affect his decision to pull Sheriff’s Office services out of the city in 10 days.
That leaves Prichard — one of Mobile County’s largest cities — facing the possibility of having no dedicated police coverage and no agreement in place with the county less than two weeks from now.
‘Communication Must Be a Priority’
In her statement, Hale acknowledged the mayor does not need council permission to exercise the authority of her office, but argued that decisions affecting an entire department and the city’s residents should not come as a surprise to council members.
\”Keeping one another informed is not about control; it is about respect, responsible government, and making sure we are all prepared to answer to the people who elected us,\” Hale said.
Hale, who has lived in Prichard for nearly two decades, said she did not enter public service as a politician but as a mother and resident who wanted a safe, stable city for children, seniors and families. She said she still believes the relationship between the council and the administration can be repaired, but that it will require better communication, transparency and a willingness to work as a team.
\”Right now, my two greatest concerns are the financial stability of the City of Prichard and the safety and well-being of our citizens, and those concerns must remain at the center of every decision we make,\” she said.
The mayor’s office has not publicly detailed the reasons for placing the department on leave or how long the arrangement will last.