Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond announces retirement [Video]

Mayor Randall Woodfin announced key leadership changes at the Birmingham Police Department Thursday morning, including the chief of police, during a news conference.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13Police Chief Scott Thurmond announced that he is retiring. He started his career in 1998.”The time is right,” Thurmond said. “There’s many positive things going on in the city right now.”Thurmond and Woodfin hugged after the announcement.Woodfin commended Thurmond on all of his hard work for public service, including retention of officers and solving homicides.Thurmond said he turned 50 this year, and it’s been months of thinking, but he had to do what’s best for him and his family. He noted that community comments and city leadership had nothing to do with this decision.”It just happened to be bad timing, unfortunately,” Thurmond said.Thurmond is going to work with the department during his transition through Nov. 29.Watch the full news conference below.The …