Joseph D. Bryant
Housing Authority of the Birmingham District
Jeffrey Gorley knows there is no time to waste when it comes to addressing safety in Birmingham’s public housing communities. Lives are at stake.
In his first few weeks on the job, Gorley, the new director of public safety for the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, has worked to form partnerships with federal law enforcement officials, enhance communication with Birmingham police and urge greater community cooperation.
“You’re going to see in a matter of months a big turnaround,” Gorley said. “We’re going to deal with this situation.”
Gorley was formally introduced to the public last week at a gathering that included Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper, acting U.S. Attorney Robert Posey and Metro Alabama Crime Stoppers Executive Director Jim Neill.
Preventing, addressing and prosecuting crime is a broad community effort, said Gorley, who added he wants to bring as many partners together including public housing residents.
Bringing Gorley on board is a “very significant milestone,” said HABD President/CEO Michael Lundy as Gorley stood next to him during the formal introduction.
Gorley was introduced at Marks Village where Lundy announced nearly a year ago his plan to hire the agency’s first public safety director. The new position is a major component of HABD’s multi-point security plan that also included increased police patrols, greater resident engagement and reduced entry points into Marks Village. Street closings are awaiting city approval.
Lundy, who reviewed applications from around the country before selecting Gorley, called the new position essential to helping the agency coordinate with residents and law enforcement issues of crime in public housing.
“We searched high and low for the best professional in this industry,” Lundy said. “Mr. Gorley has had a distinguished career in public safety and comes to Birmingham with a lot of accolades and lots of credentials.”
Aggressive crime prevention plans were announced after a spate of violent incidents, including a mass shooting in Sept. 2016 that claimed the life of 20-year-old Bobby Clayton at Marks Village. Clayton was a bystander when shooting erupted just an hour after a stop the violence event concluded nearby.
Community Policing
As part of his own effort to become closer to the residents served by HABD, Gorley has moved into public housing himself, just as he did at his last assignment in Passaic, N.J.
Gorley received accolades for helping bring down crime rates at public housing communities including in New Jersey, Miami Dade County, Fla. and Virginia.
In Passaic, Gorley played a key role in a crackdown of drugs in the public housing that resulted in a high-profile arrest of the agency’s former housing authority chairman.
“This type of stuff is not going to be tolerated,” Gorley told the Northjersey.com/The Record in 2014. “It doesn’t matter whether you are a regular employee of the Housing Authority, a manager, a tenant or a commissioner.”
In Birmingham, Gorley promised the same level of action and non-biased law enforcement. While much of the violence committed within public housing is done by non-residents, Gorley noted that many of those perpetrators have ties to residents. HABD will enforce its zero-tolerance policy for tenants who support lawlessness, he told city leaders during a briefing before the Birmingham City Council.
He also asked for the council’s support and backup when HABD evicts problem tenants. In return, Gorley promised an open dialog with the city.
“I want you all to hold me accountable,” he said.
