PRICHARD, Ala. – Prichard’s police chief and mayor are pushing back against accusations made by the Mobile County sheriff’s office and the District Attorney’s Office. The recent controversy stems from Sheriff Paul Burch’s criticism of the Prichard Police Department, alleging failure in serving the citizens.
Police Chief Walter Knight vehemently refuted the sheriff’s claims, citing underlying racism as the motivation behind the attacks on the department. Mayor Jimmie Gardner echoed these sentiments, citing treatment disparities and challenges in working collaboratively with the District Attorney’s Office.
The tension escalated when Sheriff Burch announced the takeover of a shooting and robbery case in Eight Mile, emphasizing that previous failures by the Prichard PD could have prevented the violent incident. In response, Chief Knight asserted that his department faced hindrances in obtaining warrants from the DA’s office, attributing these challenges to perpetuating racial biases.
The Mayor has requested a meeting with District Attorney Keith Blackwood to address the concerns raised by the Police Department. Blackwood, in turn, responded to the accusations, signaling a potential resolution in the ongoing dispute.
The situation remains tense as the City of Prichard, its Police Department, and local law enforcement agencies navigate through the underlying issues of control, credibility, and racial bias that have come to the forefront in recent days.
