Biography of Retired Deputy Chief Shelia Frazier-Finney.
Chief Finney brings a career of public safety leadership, community partnership, and youth-centered service to every engagement.
Through speaking, training, and educational programming, Chief Finney advances practical strategies that help young people make safe, healthy, and informed decisions.
Retired Deputy Chief Shelia Frazier-Finney concluded a distinguished 29-year law enforcement career with the Birmingham Police Department and retired on June 24, 2024.
In April 2023, Chief Finney was appointed by Mayor Woodfin as the first female Deputy Chief of the Investigative Bureau, where she led major investigative and forensic divisions.
Across leadership roles in investigations, patrol, and community safety, Chief Finney helped drive measurable reductions in crime, ranging from 9 percent to 32 percent in divisions under her command.
Chief Finney is the Founder and CEO of Change Mindsetz, LLC, delivering youth leadership and crime prevention education through public speaking, educational training, and workshops.
Chief Finney was born in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Billy Frazier Sr. She is a graduate of West End High School.
Chief Finney attended Talladega College from 1985 to 1988 and later earned a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree from Faulkner University in 2000. In 2006, she completed a Juris Doctorate at the Birmingham School of Law.
Chief Finney has received numerous professional certifications, including certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology as a Licensed Histological Technician in 1993.
Additional qualifications include training at the Law Enforcement Executive Development Institute (LEEDA), Certified Instructor status, completion of the FBI Instructor Development Course, and completion of the FBI LEEDA Leadership Trilogy in 2023:
Chief Finney also holds IMPACT Certification (2023), Personnel Board of Jefferson County Certified Trainer with Valor credentials, Train the Trainer credentials, and various other specialized trainings and certifications.
Chief Finney retired from the Birmingham Police Department after a remarkable 29-year career, culminating in retirement on June 24, 2024.
Throughout her tenure, she served in a variety of roles and was appointed the first female Deputy Chief of the Investigative Bureau by Mayor Woodfin in April 2023.
In that role, she oversaw the Crimes Against Persons Division, Crimes Against Property Division, and Forensic Science Division.
Chief Finney's leadership also extended to the Community Safety Partnership Division, where she served as Lieutenant and Captain, leading patrols in the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District from 2019 to 2023. During that period, crime rates in her divisions saw notable decreases ranging from 9 percent to 32 percent.
Chief Finney has received numerous awards and commendations for distinguished service.
Chief Finney is actively involved in professional organizations and leadership networks.
Chief Finney pledged Zeta Phi Beta Sorority at Talladega College in 1986 and transferred chapters in 2022.
Chief Finney has dedicated many years to youth mentorship, faith leadership, and community development initiatives.
She currently serves as a trustee for Broad Street Missionary Baptist Church and as committee chair for Finer Womanhood Events for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
She was recently appointed to the Executive Protection Detail for the Williams Group and is a candidate for board-level leadership roles in St. Clair County and the City of Center Point.
Chief Finney founded Change Mindsetz, LLC in 2025 to empower youth through structured leadership training and crime prevention education.
Through public speaking engagements, workshops, and educational programs, she delivers practical tools that promote accountability, self-control, and informed decision-making.
Chief Finney is married to Mr. Willie Finney Jr. She is the proud parent of Brandon Finney and aunt to Jeremiah Finney.
Proverbs 3:6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path."