By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



The City of Fultondale is taking a unique approach to keeping shoppers safe — they’re asking businesses for help.

In a Monday morning meeting at the new LaQuinta Inn in Fultondale, city officials spoke to members of the city’s business community to discuss a partnership between them and the Fultondale Police Department.

Mayor Jim Lowery said Monday’s meeting would be the first of what he hoped would be a continued partnership.

“We’re not expecting answers, but we will be back in touch with you,” he said. “If we work together in solving these issues, we can get things done.”

The size of Fultondale’s shopping center is expected to double over the course of the next year with another phase announced for the south end of the Colonial Promenade shopping center.

Additionally, Lowery said the amount of shoppers will greatly increase in the months leading up to the Christmas season, and he wants to make sure the city is prepared to handle the influx of traffic and potential criminals.

He pointed out that shopping centers in other parts of the Birmingham area had municipal officers that patrolled the stores, and said he would talk to other city leaders to get more information on how those cities worked with the business community.

Fultondale Police Chief Byron Pigg said the city had already passed ordinances dealing with overnight parking of tractor trailers and loitering at the shopping center that had helped the officers police the shopping center.

He said officers would continue to patrol the shopping center, but as the development grows, more officers would be needed.

“We need two men over there,” Pigg said. “We had rather see a police officer riding around or walking than a gangster.”

Jeff Pinegar, property manager for Colonial Properties Trust, said keeping a continued police presence at the shopping center now will pay off in the future.

“I’ve been in instances where something bad happens and it’s very hard to take back control,” he said.

Other police department changes include naming Fultondale Police Sgt. Tim Parker as a police liaison to the business community. Additionally, a police lieutenant has been moved to night shift to give the department a command presence should businesses need assistance after dark.

Two Fultondale business representatives said they were already pleased with the level of commitment offered by the city’s police officers.

Jimmie Johnson of the Fultondale Best Buy said his store had already saved money because the police presence was a shoplifting deterrent for his store.

“Everybody feels comfortable going to their cars,” he said. “The city and police department understand the importance of safety.”

Target manager Dana Furman said having more officers in the area made customers “feel comfortable going in and out” of the store.