State Trooper Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

Birmingham man sentenced for carjacking and firearm charges

A federal judge sentenced Darise Cortez Austin, age 29, on Friday for carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence that occurred in Birmingham. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Haera. U.S. District Judge Corey … Continued

June 29, 2020

Ivey announces $1.2 million to boost traffic safety

There will soon be a heavier state trooper presence on state roadways thanks to two grants totaling $1.2 million, Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration approved the grant, which will be administered to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, according to … Continued

August 12, 2019

Road rage and deer hunting bills take center stage in Legislature

Over 20 years ago when I was a legislator, the state trooper assigned to my county asked if he could come visit with me. “Of course,” I said. When he came, he had a somber look on his face. I thought maybe he had a serious personal problem or had lost a loved one. He … Continued

May 22, 2019

DA Greg Griggers shot in Demopolis

The District Attorney for Marengo, Greene and Sumter Counties, Greg Griggers, was ambushed outside of his Demopolis office by a suspect Thursday. The attempted assassin was killed by law enforcement according to Demopolis Police Chief Tommie Reese. Griggers is the DA for Judicial Circuit 17 District Attorney. Authorities are reporting that Griggers was ambushed as … Continued

November 16, 2018

What matters to you?

What should be important in governor’s race? No, really, I’m asking. What should I care about? Which qualities should sway my vote? What could one candidate do to separate himself or herself from the other? I ask because the things I thought everyone would care about apparently don’t matter, or maybe they matter only to … Continued

November 2, 2018

Collier’s allegations are not about Ivey’s health — they’re about retaliation

It’s not the (alleged) stroke, it’s the coverup. That was the message from Walt Maddox and his campaign on Thursday, as they took shots at Gov. Kay Ivey for allegedly directing her security detail to cover up a health scare in 2015. She’s also alleged to have demoted a state trooper from her security team … Continued

October 19, 2018

A breakdown of Ivey’s ever-changing story on her Colorado illness, trooper demotion

It’s tough to keep a good lie going. The problem isn’t so much the original lie, even if it’s a doozy. The trouble comes on the back side, when you have to start piling lies on top of lies to make that original lie hold up. And then you have to keep it all straight. … Continued

October 17, 2018

George Martin to be retried

Thursday Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) announced that the Alabama Supreme Court has reversed lower court decisions that had dismissed the indictment of former state trooper George Martin to be retried for the 1995 capital murder of his wife in Mobile County. Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that the indictment will be reinstated and … Continued

September 5, 2018

Bill to break up ALEA gets favorable report

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, April 12, 2017, the Alabama House State Government Committee gave a favorable report to House bill 425, which would undo a key Bentley Administration policy and break up the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). This on the same day that ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler retired under pressure from … Continued

April 13, 2017