Montgomery’s “Front Line Hero” doctor sheds light on rampant shootings, police shortage
A physician who was recognized as a “Front Line Hero” by the City of Montgomery for his efforts battling the COVID-19 pandemic is weighing in on the constant shootings and crime. Dr. David Thrasher has lived in the Capitol City for the past 74 years. He served as the Montgomery County Coroner for 13 years, and was a trusted voice during the COVID-19 pandemic. He recently started writing emails to city leaders, and now they are forwarded to hundreds of people who value the no-nonsense recommendations he makes to address crime in the city.
“COVID was the hardest two years of my life, but I said we’ve got another pandemic now and I can’t just keep my mouth shut,” said Thrasher. Dr. Thrasher treated thousands of patients and advised the city on health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. His tireless drive and connections in the medical field allowed Montgomery to be the eleventh in the world to receive the monoclonal antibody infusion treatments that are credited with saving thousands of lives. After a burglary six weeks ago at his home, Thrasher has turned his focus to the crime epidemic in the Capitol City. “I started doing some research, and we do have rampant crime. 85% of cities our size – between 100,000 and 200,000 – are safer than us. We’re in the top homicides per capita, we’re in the top burglaries per capita. Our homicide rate is worse than Chicago,” said Thrasher.
Dr. Thrasher has researched extensively, and the statistics he has memorized come pouring out quickly. “Every day someone comes in (to the emergency rooms) with a shooting. This past weekend, (there were) 15 shootings. 4 were life-threatening. We’ve had 18 Montgomery school kids shot this year. 12 died. This isn’t all about 20 or 30 year-old people getting murdered. These are our kids getting murdered, ” said Thrasher. He has spoken with many MPD officers and says their morale is low. “We have lost 33 MPD (officers) in the last three months. We’ve hired three. We’re hemorrhaging,” said Thrasher.
Thrasher says there is plenty of money in the city budget. “We’ve got $60 million dollars in the city in reserve right now. We have $5 million dollars from the last two years of unspent, budgeted MPD money. Mainly because we don’t have the personnel. Use that money to pay for overtime for our sheriff’s deputies, ALEA, or even private Presidential Security. We’ve got to get boots on the ground,” Thrasher says. The oath that he took as a doctor to help heal the sick has transformed into a mission to help heal a city ailing from violent crime. “Time is not on our side either. We are hemorrhaging people. We’re down 7,000 people, whereas Birmingham and Huntsville are growing. We’re going to lose our tax base. I want to try to make a difference in Montgomery. My goal is to be the spark that starts the fire to get everyone talking about the crime issue,” said Thrasher.
Dr. Thrasher says he has no interest in running for political office. He is only motivated by his love for the city and his fellow residents. He says finding a new police chief who knows the city well and can hit the ground running should be the top priority – along with hiring more officers – for city leaders right now. He also believes programs for at-risk youth are important. He would like to see Montgomery Public Schools bring back programs that allow students to learn about and train for careers in law enforcement. Dr. Thrasher was an original founder and board member of the Boys and Girls Club Foundation. In 2024 he was inducted into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame. He has also been honored by Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Legislature.
