Former UAB Police Officer Alleges Wrongful Termination and Discrimination

By The Alabama Post · Birmingham, AL

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A former University of Alabama at Birmingham police officer, Adam Awwad, is speaking out after what he describes as a pattern of discrimination and unfair treatment that ultimately led to his termination from the UAB Police Department (UABPD).

Awwad, who served the UAB community with pride for several years, says his dismissal was the culmination of years of bias and unequal treatment rooted in his Muslim faith and Arab background. He maintains that throughout his tenure, he performed his duties with integrity, professionalism, and compassion — often going above and beyond to serve the campus community.

According to Awwad, several incidents during his career were misinterpreted through a cultural lens, resulting in disciplinary action he believes stemmed from misunderstanding rather than misconduct. “I’ve always tried to treat people with kindness and respect — that’s part of who I am and how I was raised,” Awwad said. “But my intentions were often taken the wrong way because of my background.”

He says the turning point came after a workplace incident that led to an internal investigation. Awwad insists he proved his innocence, providing supporting evidence — yet was still terminated. “I cooperated fully, told the truth, and did everything right,” he said. “But I was never given a fair chance. I was treated differently — not because of my actions, but because of who I am.”

Awwad also states that during his time at UABPD, he faced discriminatory comments and treatment, including being singled out in ways that made him uncomfortable as a Muslim officer. Despite raising concerns, he says the department failed to take meaningful action.

The termination, he says, has had devastating effects on his personal life. “This has been financially and emotionally crushing,” Awwad said. “I’m the sole caretaker for my grandmother, and I pay for her medical bills and living expenses. Losing my income has been incredibly hard — but losing my career, something I poured my heart into, has been worse.”

Awwad is now seeking legal and community support as he fights to clear his name. “I don’t want revenge. I just want fairness,” he said. “I want my story to be heard, and I want other people who’ve been through this kind of discrimination to know they’re not alone.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support Awwad during his legal fight:
https://gofund.me/b6b6b11ae

As of now, UAB officials have not publicly commented on the allegations.

View on TikTok