SB 298: Why Not Make Montgomery the Standard for Safety?

Guest Opinion by Ty Taylor

On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, I had the opportunity to sit in the gallery of the Alabama State Senate and watch Senate Bill 298 come before the upper chamber. The sponsor, Senator Will Barfoot, is someone I have come to greatly respect. The purpose of the bill is simple: make Alabama a safer place to live, work, and play.

Although the conversation focused heavily on Montgomery, other cities like Huntsville and Birmingham were mentioned.

That leads to a pretty straightforward question. Why not make Montgomery the example?

Why not make our capital city the standard for safety, for growth, and for opportunity? Instead of arguing over which city may be worse off, why not push every city to compete to be the safest, the strongest, and the most attractive place for families and businesses?

Montgomery should lead that effort.

SB 298 applies across Alabama and impacts Class 3 municipalities. However, my focus here is on Montgomery because it is my home. I was born and raised in Montgomery. Every job I have had was in Montgomery, and I currently work in Montgomery. I shop here. I worship here. My wife and our three children are in this city several days each week. This is where I chose to stay and raise my family. This is where I chose to build a life.

Because of that, I have seen both the good and the challenges.

My office sits in the middle of downtown. From my window, I can see several of the attractions and economy boosters of Montgomery. Out one window, I see the Montgomery Biscuits baseball stadium and the Equal Justice Initiative museums. Out of another, I look at the Renaissance Hotel and MPAC Convention Center. A few blocks in the distance are the federal and state courthouses. In the other direction lies the Alabama River, alongside train tracks that almost always carry freight through the heart of the city. These are things that should make this city a magnet for events, for business, and for families.

Montgomery should be a destination.

But too often, it is becoming a magnet for violent crime. Crime where the public is disregarded, and the number of victims is not being realized as the harsh reality that it is.

Last week, my family was headed to the Montgomery Zoo, which is one of the best things the city runs. As my wife and children were on the way, I learned that someone had been shot just a street away from the zoo, and the shooter was reportedly fleeing through the neighborhood. Plans changed. There was no way I was going to let my family be anywhere near there. Why are people getting shot at 11:30 in the morning on a Friday? How close was the first available unit? Was the defendant caught?

We can say overall crime is down. But violent crime, whether it is trending up, down, or staying the same, is something we should never accept as part of daily life.

We should not settle for “better than last year” or “heading in the right direction.”

The goal should be safety. We get to that point of increased safety by increasing the number of boots on the ground. More police officers in the community will result in lower violent crimes.

We may never reach that perfect utopia of zero crime. But that does not mean we stop trying to get as close as we possibly can.

I care about the safety of this community. I also care about the people who are tasked with protecting it. A lot of our officers are exhausted and stretched thin. When someone reaches the point where they believe things are not going to improve, they leave for somewhere that will give them a better chance to succeed.

I do not blame them for that.

That is why SB 298 matters. It sets the standard for getting the men and women in blue to the numbers that the community needs. This bill does not mandate that everything changes in the snap of a finger. Instead, the bill gives Class 3 municipalities five years to get up to the standard. The bill requires a police department that has less than 1.9 officers per 1,000 citizens to provide updates for how that department is increasing the size of its officers. Annually, the department must provide the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary an update of 1) the number of officers on its roster, 2) the municipality’s population, and 3) the steps taken to increase recruitment. The time to do that goes until October of 2031. The time is there. This is an attainable goal.

I would encourage folks to read the bill. Gain an understanding of what its purpose is. This is not a hostile takeover of the Montgomery Police Department. It is a nudge in the direction of increased safety and decreased violent crime. Talk to local law enforcement. Have a conversation with someone who has been the victim of a recent crime.

I have spoken with officers who work in Montgomery and the surrounding areas. To the city’s credit, there are signs that things are improving. There are positive trends. To that I say “keep it up.” But a slight trend in the right direction is not something we should settle for. We should all agree that safety is a priority. If the State of Alabama is wanting to reach out and help the City of Montgomery, that support should be received with open arms.

Montgomery has historically set the example for excellence. There is no reason it cannot do it again, especially when it comes to public safety.

Last year, the Legislature created the Montgomery Area Crime Suppression Unit (“MACS”). The impact of that effort has been real. Increasing the number of officers focused on the types of crimes that hurt our community the most has made a difference. It has shown what happens when you put more law enforcement on the streets.

SB 298 builds on what MACS enforcement has started. We have already seen Montgomery what increased law enforcement presence can do for public safety. This bill takes that next step.

There has been a lot said about this bill. Some have tried to frame it as a hostile takeover of the Montgomery Police Department. That is simply not true. This bill is about support and partnership. It is about helping the city get its police force to the capacity it needs to be at.

More officers on the road means more law being enforced. That is common sense. It means more visibility, more deterrence, and more protection for the public.

This bill tells officers that they are supported. It tells them they are not on their own. It tells them that the work they are doing matters enough for the state to step in and help.

Importantly, SB 298 tells the people of Montgomery something just as important. It tells them that their safety matters.

There is nothing wrong with putting Montgomery on the map for the right reasons. A safer city means stronger neighborhoods, more business investment, and more opportunities for families to thrive. That is what we should be working toward.

I support SB 298. I support the men and women in law enforcement who show up every single day and do a difficult job, often without enough resources. This bill supports them, and this bill supports every person who calls Montgomery home.

Ty Taylor is a Republican candidate for Alabama State Senate District 25. A firefighter and attorney, Taylor has built his career around service, working alongside first responders and representing families in the courtroom. Taylor emphasizes support for law enforcement, personal responsibility, and economic growth across his district. Positioning himself as a “new voice,” Taylor is campaigning on practical leadership and a commitment to keeping State government responsive to the people it serves.

For more information, visit https://www.tytaylorforalabamasenate.com of follow Taylor on social media.

Opinions do not reflect the views and opinions of ALPolitics.com. ALPolitics.com makes no claims nor assumes any responsibility for the information and opinions expressed above.