While Birmingham police investigate a robbery at Railroad Park Monday, Mayor William Bell said the city will review the case to ensure safety at the downtown attraction. As the new park has brought visitors out in droves, it has not yet faced a public relations crisis subsequent to a crime.

Photo by Terry McCombs

In 1977, a kidnapping and murder on Morris Avenue withered and eventually killed efforts to create a robust entertainment district there. Even though the perpetrators were from out of state, concerns about crime kept visitors away. Mayor Bell said vigilant police work would keep the Railroad Park safe from such an incident.

Tuesday, Mayor Bell said he was confident in Chief A.C. Roper’s leadership of the Birmingham Police Department and said he was pleased that crime overall in the city has fallen.