Join the Heersink School of Medicine chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) for October’s seminar, “Opportunities and Challenges to Success,” presented by Chief Annetta Nunn, the first African American woman to serve as Chief of Police for the Birmingham Police Department (2003–2007).

Annetta W. Nunn is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. Her formal education began in kindergarten at 23rd Street Baptist Church, Ensley, and continued in the Birmingham Public School System.  After graduating from Jackson-Olin High School, she attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. 

She joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1980 and was assigned to each of the four bureaus during her 28-year career. She received training in several areas and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Leadership Birmingham, the FBI National Executive Institute, and the YWCA Momentum Program. While serving as captain of the North Precinct in 1997, her command was the only one to achieve Mayor Richard Arrington’s mandated 15% reduction in crime by attaining a 16% reduction.

On March 24, 2000, she was promoted to Deputy Chief and assumed command of the Field Operations Bureau. She was the first African American woman to hold this rank in the department. On February 11, 2003, she was appointed Chief of Police and assumed the office on March 7, 2003.  Despite budget and personnel reductions, the department experienced several years of decreases in felony offenses under her leadership, which was based on participatory management, community policing, and partnerships with faith-based organizations. She has received numerous awards and commendations. 

Chief Nunn retired from the Birmingham Police Department on January 4, 2008.  Six months later, she accepted a position with the YWCA of Central Alabama’s domestic violence program as a court advocate and grant coordinator. She later assumed the position of Community Outreach Coordinator. Although her initial agreement was for one year, she served there for 10 years before retiring in 2018. Annetta was certified as a domestic violence prevention trainer by the Department of Homeland Security and the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission. In January 2021, Annetta accepted a part-time position with One Place Family Justice Center in Birmingham as the project coordinator for the Vicarious Trauma Response Initiative. The position ended in 2023; however, she continues to volunteer to provide training when requested.