‘This partnership is invaluable’: Impact on ATF ballistics partnership with Birmingham Police

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - We’re getting some insight into the federal partnership between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Birmingham Police to combat violent crime. The city recently renewed the collaboration.

WBRC recently got a rare look inside the evidence vault at the ATF office in Birmingham. We’re told some of the guns were recently taken off the streets. It’s a part of the ATF’s partnership with the city to combat gun violence.

“We all have a vested interest in finding those who are perpetrating this violence in our community,” Tyra Cunningham, Assistant Special Agent in Charge with Birmingham said.

A few months ago, the Birmingham City Council signed off on a three-year partnership with the ATF to provide the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network - or NIBIN - to the city.

Cunningham said it’s the continuation of a partnership that’s been working to solve violent crime.

Here’s how NIBIN works. After a gun is fired, the bullet is examined and the information is entered into the computer system which it can be matched to other cases of gun violence that are on record.

“Once test fires are put into that same system, those leads begin to be kicked back to these law enforcement professionals and they are then able to link all of these incidences together,” Cunningham said.

Last year, Cunningham said teamwork between local and the feds played a crucial role in helping investigators in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Hush Lounge.

“This partnership is invaluable. Absolutely, it’s working. The partnership contributed to the reduction in the homicide rate from Birmingham last year, that 56%. Having that information available, of course what took place at the Hush lounge shooting, and being able to input that evidence into the system and finding out all of these other different shooting incidents absolutely was invaluable,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham, who is a Birmingham native, said having community support is just as vital in helping solve crimes. She said the community is a 50/50 partner with law enforcement.

Crime Stoppers is a good way to report information to law enforcement. Call 205-254-7777 with tips. You can do it anonymously and get paid in the process.

We’re told the use of the NIBIN Enforcement Support System (NESS) is provided to BPD without charge to the city.

The ATF also works with other law enforcement agencies in the Birmingham metro area.

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