Rowdy pool party forced to close by police

Birmingham police were forced to close down a pool party in the 300 block of Westchester Street in the city on Saturday, June 13, after mounting complaints were phoned in to the department over noise, neighborhood streets jammed with cars and lewd public behavior by partygoers.

According to city officials, the police department and comments from neighboring homeowners who attended a June 17 joint city commission-planning board meeting, a crowd of approximately 200 persons attended a pool party at the Westchester address which had been rented out by the homeowner.

The pool had been advertised for rent on a pool-rental online platform and a promoter reportedly organized the event. Police officials said that security personnel were at the house and checked those entering for weapons. Those attending the party were charged an admission fee.

Birmingham Police Department Investigations Captain Michael Simpson to city officials at the June 17 public meeting that officers were first dispatched to the home at 4 p.m. and returned five more times to the site after the initial visit. Noise level readings were taken at each visit and at 8:30 p.m. a decision was made to shut the party down.

Simpson said that department personnel were then called away for a motorcycle accident and were not able to remain at the home as the crowd was dispersed.

Simpson said that the homeowner and the renter have been issued citations and some party attendees were also later cited.

City manager Jana Ecker at the June 17 meeting said that the party was illegal because it is against local ordinances to operate a commercial endeavor like renting out the pool in a residential neighborhood.

Police Chief Scott Grewe, in a post online this week, conceded that the pool party should have been shut down much earlier and "should an event require intervention in the future, there will be police supervision to ensure the orderly and safe dispersal of attendees."