Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed has taken to social media to respond to
Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth
criticizing him for supposedly not giving proper credit to what has decrease crime in the capital city.
During a speech at the Eastern Shore Republican Women’s luncheon Thursday in Fairhope, Ainsworth said that a recent drop in crime in Montgomery is attributable to local and state law enforcement working together as part of Gov. Kay Ivey’s Metro Area Crime Suppression Task Force.
“Steven Reed, the mayor of Montgomery, had a press conference, and for some reason, he was taking credit for a lot of work that other people did,” Ainsworth said,
according to the 1819 News website
.
“But I think that same model where ALEA is going in and the state is partnering with local law enforcement, certainly we want to do that in other parts of the state as well, and I think that’s a good model, and so we’re gonna continue to do that.”
Reed responded to Ainsworth’s comments on X and said Ainsworth should be focused on results that would make Alabama “safer and more prosperous.”
“I’m not sure why (Ainsworth) brought me up in his talk but I’m not worried about credit because I focus on results,” Reed posted.
AL.com left a message seeking comment with Ainsworth.
Montgomery asaw a surge in violent crime
in 2024, prompting the creation of the
Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit, knowns as MACS
.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
has credited the MACS Unit with a “30% drop in violent crime and a 19% decrease in overall crime” in Montgomery since the program was launched in June 2024.
Ivey and Ainsworth have served in office together since 2019.
Ainsworth, who cannot seek a third term in 2026, had
considered a run for governor
but chose not to return to the private sector after his time in office is done.
“While my name will not be on the ballot for governor in 2026, I will be on the campaign trail working alongside President Trump to help elect a strong, conservative governor and other Republican elected officials who will keep Alabama moving in the right direction,”
Ainsworth wrote in May.
