Public safety

Auburn police officer killed in the line of duty

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey asked that flags be flown at half-staff Monday to mourn the loss of Auburn Police Department Officer William Buechner, who was killed in the line of duty. Two other officers were wounded in an incident late Sunday night. “Just last week, in Alabama and across the country, we honored the sacrifice … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 21, 2019

Human trafficking remains an Alabama problem

The Republican Women of Shelby County were briefed on Saturday on the human trafficking problem in Alabama by Detective Trent Kempster with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Kempster heads the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, the largest human-trafficking task force in the state. He has 23 years of law enforcement experience, including working narcotics. The … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 20, 2019

Former Washington County revenue commissioner indicted

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Wednesday the arrest of Laura Lee (Lewis) Taylor, a former Washington County revenue commissioner and former treasurer of the Public Park and Recreation Board of Washington County. Taylor, 68, is charged with 26 felonies, including first-degree theft of property, identity theft, second-degree criminal possession of forged instruments and attempt … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 17, 2019

ADOC wants contract with communications company at center of multiple lawsuits, complaints

UPDATE: A Securus representative reached out to APR to share updates on two key issues related to the story. First, Securus, after a number of complaints and bad publicity, no longer offers location-based tracking services. Secondly, the company also doesn’t have any control over whether prisons elect to discontinue in-person family visits with inmates. It … Continued

Josh Moon

May 2, 2019

Senate committee expected to consider juvenile justice reform bill Wednesday

A Senate committee will consider legislation Wednesday aimed at creating better outcomes for youth in Alabama’s juvenile justice system by reducing the number of youth placed in state detention for low-level offenses. The bill — sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster — aims to keep low-level offenders at home instead of in state facilities, … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 30, 2019

Reps. Merika Coleman, Terri Collins introduce legislation aimed at fighting human trafficking

Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, introduced four bills aimed at fighting human trafficking on Wednesday in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Three of the bills passed unanimously through the committee. One, HB260, will receive a public hearing and will be voted on next week. “Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal … Continued

Gabby Dance

April 26, 2019

A joint law enforcement operation targets contraband at Holman Prison

The Alabama Department of Corrections announced Thursday that they have conducted a joint law enforcement operation in an effort to find and remove illegal contraband from the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. ADOC officials launched the operation at 4:30 a.m. Thursday with support from more than 300 officials from local, county and state … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 23, 2019

Marshall granted restraining order in state’s first civil human-trafficking case

Attorney General Steve Marshall has been granted a temporary restraining order against a chain of North Alabama massage businesses. He said the businesses have actually been operating a human-trafficking enterprise. This is the state’s first civil human-trafficking case under the new civil enforcement provision to Alabama’s human-trafficking law. The complaint also claims violations of Alabama’s … Continued

Jessica Ballard

April 22, 2019

Marshall addresses Mid-Alabama Republicans

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall spoke to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club at the Vestavia Hills Public Library on Saturday. On Thursday, Federal Judge Kristi Dubose of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, granted Christopher Lee Price’s petition for a stay of execution. Marshall said at some point, federal judges and the … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 16, 2019

Ivey calls stay of execution for Christopher Lee Price a miscarriage of justice

Late Thursday night, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) called the granting of a stay of execution for death row inmate Christopher Lee Price “a miscarriage of justice.” “This evening, the state of Alabama witnessed a miscarriage of justice,” Gov. Ivey said. “Just days before Christmas in 1991, Christopher Lee Price brutally took the life of … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 12, 2019