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‘The time for terrorizing the Black community with no repercussions is over.’ Reactions to LMPD investigation

By |2023-03-08T14:28:33-05:00March 8th, 2023|A Path Forward, Breonna Taylor|

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke Wednesday alongside several officials from Louisville and the Department of Justice to reveal findings from a nearly two-year investigation into the city's government and police department.The 90-page report details issues and violations the department found in its review of Louisville Metro Police, along with recommendations for moving forward.Live updates:Findings of federal investigation into LMPD after Breonna Taylor's killingMore reactions:DOJ's report into Louisville police: How people are responding on social mediaHere are some key moments and quotes from the Wednesday press conference and from community members about the findings.Merrick Garland, US attorney general“This conduct is unacceptable. It is heartbreaking. It erodes the community trust necessary for effective policing, and it is an affront to the vas majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve with honor – and it is an affront to the people of Louisville.”"To the officers of LMPD: The Justice Department is acutely aware of the integral role that law enforcement officers play in our society and the dangers you face to keep your community safe – so it is imperative that your police department sets you up for success."Vanita Gupta, associate attorney general"LMPD’s ability to serve and protect the people of Louisville has been compromised and the findings are deeply troubling and sobering. So we are committed to working with Louisville on a path forward to constitutional policing and stronger police-community trust."Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general"These findings are not based on any one incident or event. They turn on evidence showing long-standing dysfunction at LMPD. The pattern or practice of unlawful conduct compromises LMPD’s ability to serve and protect safely, constitutionally and effectively. Instead, LMPD has practiced an extreme, misdirected and counterproductive style of policing.""Our efforts were exhaustive. We talked to hundreds of people across the city. We rode with officers in their cars on patrol. We spoke with city and union officials, judges and attorneys, advocacy groups, religious leaders and community members from different walks of life. And along with our experts, we've reviewed thousands of documents regarding LMPD’s enforcement activities, and we watch thousands of hours of body-worn camera footage."Craig Greenberg, Louisville mayor"I know some people are surprised and horrified to hear stories about certain officers operating in ways that are so counter to our values as a community. All of this is really hard to hear and hard to accept. It's infuriating. I understand that."I also know there are people who are not surprised to hear the findings in this report, because they see this report as confirmation of complaints they've made about their own interactions with law enforcement, sometimes for years. Many of those spoke out and felt dismissed or devalued. Now, the United States Department of Justice is essentially saying 'Yes, in many cases, you were right. And you deserve better.' That's a powerful thing. I understand that, too."And I know there are people who will look at this report, and they'll be eager to find some way to minimize it. or dismiss it. They'll say it's all politics, or that you could find examples like this in any city. No – this is not about politics or other places. This is about Louisville. This is about our city, our neighbors and how we serve them."Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, interim LMPD chief"This is an extremely challenging and pivotal point for our city, our department and for our officers. Now that the DOJ has concluded their investigation and presented their findings, we will continue our efforts in improving public safety in this beautiful city called Louisville and making LMPD the premier police department in the country."Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor"What was confirmed today is that I should still be able to to pick up the phone and reach my oldest daughter Breonna. It took us having to fight day in and day out for years simply because I deserved justice for my daughter’s murder to kickstart this investigation, but today’s findings are an indicator that Breonna’s death is not vain. Our fight will protect future potential victims from LMPD’s racist tactics and behavior. The time for terrorizing the Black community with no repercussions is over."Ben Crump, civil rights attorney who represented Breonna Taylor“The family of Breonna Taylor is encouraged by the findings released today by Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division revealing a pattern of biased policing and a long list of constitutional violations by the Louisville Metro Police Department.“These findings, and LMPD’s expected cooperation with the DOJ’s recommended remedial measures, will help protect the citizens of Louisville and shape its culture of policing. It’s steps like these, and involvement of the Attorney General and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, that will move our nation forward and prevent future tragedies like the one that took the life of Breonna Taylor and the countless others who have been killed unnecessarily by law enforcement.”Greg Fischer, former Louisville mayor (2011-2022)"Today is another important inflection point to honor the pain of 2020 by further acknowledging – and continuing to act on – the fact that our community deserves a new era of public safety. This era requires the leadership of the many good officers who have dedicated their lives to keep us safe and are committed to working in partnership with the community to develop a new form of constitutionally sound policing embraced by all our city’s residents."Since the summer of 2020, I have emphasized that public safety in Louisville and across America is at an inflection point. Without fundamental and widespread changes in police culture, resources, resident involvement and resulting police-community legitimacy, our city and nation will continue to needlessly endure tragedy after tragedy. National events since the summer of 2020 bear witness to this conclusion."Hannah Drake, Louisville poet and activist"The reform is only as good as the people executing them. So here’s my question that I really want to know. ... how many of those same officers are still employed at LMPD? What changes? Are those people going to magically go home and say you know what, let’s stop calling Black people monkeys and animals."Tim Findley Jr., pastor at Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center“Locally, what people have been saying for years has now been elevated on a national stage." “What I found most interesting was that they talked about Black people. They didn't say Black and brown. They didn't say other communities. Black people were targeted and terrorized. And that is a huge, huge reality that leadership, that the FOP must deal with, that Black people have been terrorized in Louisville for a very long time.”Sadiqa Reynolds, former CEO of the Louisville Urban League"It is what we said it was and worse. We know every officer is not corrupt but we recognize that the system is, so even the good ones do harm in their attempts to stand behind the shield in silence. The system does not allow for the humanization of Black people. There is nowhere in this city where we can be safe, not even in our homes. Policing itself is flawed but this department worked hard to go backward over the past several years. It works against Black residents, and authorizes and condones our abuse. There have been no significant consequences and no real accountability. There can never be justice without truth. And for many of us, the unrest has settled into our souls because we could not get anyone to give us the full truth. There must be some sort of racial reckoning for the Black community in Louisville. We deserve acknowledgment and accountability from the leaders in this city. I think I speak for many Louisvillians when I say, I am thankful for this thorough investigation and report. Now, I look forward to the hard work of change."Ted Shouse, Louisville attorney"Systemic racial discrimination by LMPD is recognized and proven in this report. Many of us had known this for years and today that knowledge is validated and respected. ... It is only through the recognition of these facts, that we can hope to have any path forward."Morgan McGarvey, U.S. congressman for Louisville“Excessive use of force and racial profiling in the Louisville Metro Police Department will continue to plague our community until we take decisive action to create true, lasting change. We simply cannot afford to wait."“Today’s report is a long overdue step in the right direction to hold our law enforcement accountable, but it does nothing to undo the centuries of systemic injustice Black communities have endured. We must commit to change, accountability, and justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tyre Nichols, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and the far too many others who were killed by police.”

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‘Disrespect for the people’: Merrick Garland issues scathing report into LMPD practices

By |2023-03-08T13:26:29-05:00March 8th, 2023|Breonna Taylor|

The U.S. Department of Justice released scathing findings from its "pattern-or-practice” investigation into Louisville Metro Police on Wednesday.The department, for years, "has practiced an aggressive style of policing that it deploys selectively, especially against Black people, but also against vulnerable people throughout the city," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference from Metro Hall on Wednesday morning. "LMPD cites people for minor offenses, like wide turns and broken taillights, while serious crimes like sexual assault and homicide go unsolved."Some officers demonstrate disrespect for the people they are sworn to protect."The 90-page report found the department:Uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and unreasonable use of police dogs and tasersConducts searches based on invalid warrants.Unlawfully executes warrants without knocking and announcing.Unlawfully stops, searches, detains and arrests people during traffic and pedestrian stops.Violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech critical of policing.Discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities while responding to crises.Garland said the Justice Department, Louisville Metro Government and Metro Police have agreed in principle to negotiate a consent decree.The Justice Department has proposed 36 remedial measures LMPD can take.The probe began after Breonna Taylor’s death and accusations of unconstitutional behavior and discrimination. Garland announced in April 2021 that police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis would face federal investigations. Both cities saw mass protests in 2020 as news of the police killings of two Black residents – Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis − reverberated around the world. While Garland said the Minneapolis probe was prompted by Floyd’s May 2020 death in which an officer kneeled on his neck for over nine minutes, he did not indicate then whether Louisville's investigation was prompted by the shooting of Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician who was killed during a March 2020 narcotics raid at her apartment that turned up no drugs or money.  DOJ indictments in Breonna Taylor case:Experts predict who has the edge, the feds or the charged officersThe FBI also has been investigating Taylor’s killing separately. The DOJ also has charged several Louisville officers in separate cases since 2020, including four former LMPD personnel in early August on charges either of lying on the warrant obtained to search Taylor’s home, obstructing investigators or — in the case of ex-Detective Brett Hankison — firing bullets that entered a neighboring apartment. Various local officials, including former Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and former LMPD Chief Erika Shields, who took over as leader of the department in January 2021 but resigned at the start of 2023 as new Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg took office, had said they welcomed the DOJ probe as part of the city’s push to improve its police department and relationships with residents. (Greenberg picked Deputy Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel to serve as his interim LMPD chief as he takes office and searches for a permanent chief.)In early September, Fischer and Shields both said the city has "not waited" in implementing various reforms.DOJ police department investigations:Are Department of Justice investigations a path to police reform or 'a war on cops'?Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, previously tweeted that “I can’t wait for the world to see Louisville Police Department for what it really is,” in response to the DOJ’s announced investigation. No officers were directly indicted and prosecuted by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s office for Taylor’s death, though several were later fired or submitted resignations. Hankison was charged at the state level in 2020 with wanton endangerment for firing bullets that went into an apartment neighboring Taylor's that was occupied by three people, and a jury acquitted him in March. What happened to Breonna Taylor?Breonna Taylor died after several LMPD officers forced their way into her southwest Louisville apartment with a battering ram around 12:40 a.m. March 13, 2020, with a search warrant to look for drugs and cash as part of a larger narcotics investigation connected to her ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. Breonna Taylor fact check:Separating the rumors from the factsTaylor’s boyfriend at the time of her death, Kenneth Walker, fired a single shot from his legally owned handgun at the door as officers busted it down, telling investigators later that he feared intruders, not police, were breaking in. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly was hit by Walker’s shot and fired six rounds in response. Detective Myles Cosgrove fired 16 shots, and Hankison fired 10 shots. Six of those bullets struck Taylor, with Cosgrove firing the fatal shot, the FBI concluded. What has happened since Breonna Taylor's death?The case led cities and states to pass laws banning or limiting no-knock search warrants, and it resulted in various changes and reforms, some still pending, at LMPD following a $12 million settlement the city reached with the Taylor family. In November, the city also settled with Walker for $2 million after he sued Louisville and several of the officers who were part of the 2020 raid.LMPD and Metro Government leaders said the city has made changes and reforms since 2020, including fixes in response to a review of the police department from Chicago-based consulting firm Hillard Heintze.The 2021 report from Hillard Heintze made 102 recommendations to turn around a department it found had failed to establish mutual trust and provide equitable treatment across Louisville's neighborhoods.A dashboard on LMPD's website most recently showed that 37% of the Hillard Heintze recommendations had been "implemented" and 47% were "in process," with others still under review.Breonna Taylor shootingA 2-year timeline shows how her death has changed usCity officials estimated in 2021 that reforms at LMPD prompted by the DOJ investigation could cost Louisville up to $10 million annually, and the city directed some federal American Rescue Plan funds to that area. The changes have already included a new Accountability and Improvement Bureau at LMPD and launch of an early warning system for officers after years of delays.This story will be updated.

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What they said: Notable quotes from press conference on Louisville police investigation

By |2023-03-08T13:26:38-05:00March 8th, 2023|A Path Forward, Breonna Taylor|

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke Wednesday alongside several officials from Louisville and the Department of Justice to reveal findings from a nearly two-year investigation into the city's government and police department.The 90-page report details issues and violations the department found in its review of Louisville Metro Police, along with recommendations for moving forward.Live updates:Findings of federal investigation into LMPD after Breonna Taylor's killingMore reactions:DOJ's report into Louisville police: How people are responding on social mediaHere are some key moments and quotes from the Wednesday press conference and from community members about the findings.Merrick Garland, US attorney general“This conduct is unacceptable. It is heartbreaking. It erodes the community trust necessary for effective policing, and it is an affront to the vas majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve with honor – and it is an affront to the people of Louisville.”"To the officers of LMPD: The Justice Department is acutely aware of the integral role that law enforcement officers play in our society and the dangers you face to keep your community safe – so it is imperative that your police department sets you up for success."Vanita Gupta, associate attorney general"LMPD’s ability to serve and protect the people of Louisville has been compromised and the findings are deeply troubling and sobering. So we are committed to working with Louisville on a path forward to constitutional policing and stronger police-community trust."Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general"These findings are not based on any one incident or event. They turn on evidence showing long-standing dysfunction at LMPD. The pattern or practice of unlawful conduct compromises LMPD’s ability to serve and protect safely, constitutionally and effectively. Instead, LMPD has practiced an extreme, misdirected and counterproductive style of policing.""Our efforts were exhaustive. We talked to hundreds of people across the city. We rode with officers in their cars on patrol. We spoke with city and union officials, judges and attorneys, advocacy groups, religious leaders and community members from different walks of life. And along with our experts, we've reviewed thousands of documents regarding LMPD’s enforcement activities, and we watch thousands of hours of body-worn camera footage."Craig Greenberg, Louisville mayor"I know some people are surprised and horrified to hear stories about certain officers operating in ways that are so counter to our values as a community. All of this is really hard to hear and hard to accept. It's infuriating. I understand that."I also know there are people who are not surprised to hear the findings in this report, because they see this report as confirmation of complaints they've made about their own interactions with law enforcement, sometimes for years. Many of those spoke out and felt dismissed or devalued. Now, the United States Department of Justice is essentially saying 'Yes, in many cases, you were right. And you deserve better.' That's a powerful thing. I understand that, too."And I know there are people who will look at this report, and they'll be eager to find some way to minimize it. or dismiss it. They'll say it's all politics, or that you could find examples like this in any city. No – this is not about politics or other places. This is about Louisville. This is about our city, our neighbors and how we serve them."Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, interim LMPD chief"This is an extremely challenging and pivotal point for our city, our department and for our officers. Now that the DOJ has concluded their investigation and presented their findings, we will continue our efforts in improving public safety in this beautiful city called Louisville and making LMPD the premier police department in the country."Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor"What was confirmed today is that I should still be able to to pick up the phone and reach my oldest daughter Breonna. It took us having to fight day in and day out for years simply because I deserved justice for my daughter’s murder to kickstart this investigation, but today’s findings are an indicator that Breonna’s death is not vain. Our fight will protect future potential victims from LMPD’s racist tactics and behavior. The time for terrorizing the Black community with no repercussions is over."Ben Crump, civil rights attorney who represented Breonna Taylor“The family of Breonna Taylor is encouraged by the findings released today by Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division revealing a pattern of biased policing and a long list of constitutional violations by the Louisville Metro Police Department.“These findings, and LMPD’s expected cooperation with the DOJ’s recommended remedial measures, will help protect the citizens of Louisville and shape its culture of policing. It’s steps like these, and involvement of the Attorney General and the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, that will move our nation forward and prevent future tragedies like the one that took the life of Breonna Taylor and the countless others who have been killed unnecessarily by law enforcement.”Greg Fischer, former Louisville mayor (2011-2022)"Today is another important inflection point to honor the pain of 2020 by further acknowledging – and continuing to act on – the fact that our community deserves a new era of public safety. This era requires the leadership of the many good officers who have dedicated their lives to keep us safe and are committed to working in partnership with the community to develop a new form of constitutionally sound policing embraced by all our city’s residents."Since the summer of 2020, I have emphasized that public safety in Louisville and across America is at an inflection point. Without fundamental and widespread changes in police culture, resources, resident involvement and resulting police-community legitimacy, our city and nation will continue to needlessly endure tragedy after tragedy. National events since the summer of 2020 bear witness to this conclusion."Hannah Drake, Louisville poet and activist"The reform is only as good as the people executing them. So here’s my question that I really want to know. ... how many of those same officers are still employed at LMPD? What changes? Are those people going to magically go home and say you know what, let’s stop calling Black people monkeys and animals."Tim Findley Jr., pastor at Kingdom Fellowship Christian Life Center“Locally, what people have been saying for years has now been elevated on a national stage." “What I found most interesting was that they talked about Black people. They didn't say Black and brown. They didn't say other communities. Black people were targeted and terrorized. And that is a huge, huge reality that leadership, that the FOP must deal with, that Black people have been terrorized in Louisville for a very long time.”Sadiqa Reynolds, former CEO of the Louisville Urban League"It is what we said it was and worse. We know every officer is not corrupt but we recognize that the system is, so even the good ones do harm in their attempts to stand behind the shield in silence. The system does not allow for the humanization of Black people. There is nowhere in this city where we can be safe, not even in our homes. Policing itself is flawed but this department worked hard to go backward over the past several years. It works against Black residents, and authorizes and condones our abuse. There have been no significant consequences and no real accountability. There can never be justice without truth. And for many of us, the unrest has settled into our souls because we could not get anyone to give us the full truth. There must be some sort of racial reckoning for the Black community in Louisville. We deserve acknowledgment and accountability from the leaders in this city. I think I speak for many Louisvillians when I say, I am thankful for this thorough investigation and report. Now, I look forward to the hard work of change."Ted Shouse, Louisville attorney"Systemic racial discrimination by LMPD is recognized and proven in this report. Many of us had known this for years and today that knowledge is validated and respected. ... It is only through the recognition of these facts, that we can hope to have any path forward."Morgan McGarvey, U.S. congressman for Louisville“Excessive use of force and racial profiling in the Louisville Metro Police Department will continue to plague our community until we take decisive action to create true, lasting change. We simply cannot afford to wait."“Today’s report is a long overdue step in the right direction to hold our law enforcement accountable, but it does nothing to undo the centuries of systemic injustice Black communities have endured. We must commit to change, accountability, and justice for Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tyre Nichols, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and the far too many others who were killed by police.”

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Live updates: Findings of federal investigation into LMPD after Breonna Taylor’s killing revealed

By |2023-03-08T12:23:46-05:00March 8th, 2023|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee|

The Courier Journal has learned that the U.S. Department of Justice is set to announce the findings of a sweeping investigation of Louisville Metro and the city's police department on Wednesday, the result of a nearly two-year probe following the killing of Breonna Taylor.The investigation, announced in April 2021 after nearly a year of protests over Taylor's killing at the hands of LMPD officers, aimed to assess "all types of force" used by local police, including potential violations of the First Amendment, whether the department engages in discriminatory policing and whether it worked in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.READ THE REPORT:US Department of Justice release on Louisville police violations and recommended reform"The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LMPD policies, training, and supervision, as well as LMPD’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline," the department's announcement on April 26, 2021, said.U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland met with city officials in the morning before a planned press conference at 11 a.m. in downtown Louisville. Garland was set to speak alongside Assistant Attorneys General Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke along with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Louisville Metro Police interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.Updates from Wednesday's press conferenceAt the press conference, Garland said the U.S. Department of Justice and city of Louisville had agreed to negotiate a consent decree to establish a reform.The 90-page report released includes 36 recommended remedial measures and a lengthy list of reported violations by the department, including discriminatory policing and use of excessive force.Violations, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, include a pattern of practice thta did not comply with the Constitution and federal law, including excessive force such as unjustified neck restraints and use of police dogs and tasers against people who posed no imminent threat, searches through invalid warrants that were executed without officers announcing their presence. Officers routinely discriminated against Black people and violated the rights of people engaged in protected speech, she said, and "disproportionately subjecting Black residents to unlawful policing."“This conduct is unacceptable. It is heartbreaking. It erodes the community trust necessary for effective policing, and it is an affront to the vast majority of officers who put their lives on the line every day to serve with honor – and it is an affront to the people of Louisville," Garland said.Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who said the report "paints a painful picture about LMPD's past," said some people will be "surprised or horrified" by the findings, while others will not be surprised "because they see this report is confirmation of complaints they've made about their own interactions with law enforcement, sometimes for years." Others, he said "will look at this report and they'll be eager to find some way to minimize it or dismiss it.""They'll say it's all politics, or that you could find examples like this in any city," Greenberg said. "No – this is not about politics or other places. This is about Louisville., This is about our city, our neighbors and how we serve them."Community meeting Wednesday nightGreenberg said Louisville plans to host a virtual community meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday night to discuss the findings.Department of Justice releases investigation on LMPD, Louisville MetroThe full investigation is 90 pages long and outlines violations in the department along with recommended changes.Check out the full release from the U.S. Department of Justice here.What happened in the Breonna Taylor caseTaylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician in Louisville, was shot and killed by LMPD officers serving a no-knock warrant at her apartment in the early-morning hours of March 13, 2020. Her death was a key factor behind national protests that summer over police killings of Black Americans and was at the center of months of demonstrations in Louisville, and Wednesday's announcement comes nearly three years after the fatal shooting.After Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team of prosecutors presented the shooting to a grand jury, just one officer who fired their weapon that night was indicted locally – Brett Hankison, on wanton endangerment charges stemming from rounds he fired that entered a neighbor's apartment. He was acquitted in March 2022.In August 2022, however, four former officers were indicted by a federal grand jury – Hankison, on excessive force charges, along with Joshua Jaynes, Kelly Ann Goodlett and Kyle Meany, who were accused of taking steps to falsify the warrant used in the raid at Taylor's apartment. Goodlett later pleaded guilty, while charges against the other former officers are still pending.Steve Conrad, who was LMPD's chief at the time of Taylor's death, was fired in June 2020 after local barbecue stand owner David McAtee was shot and killed by law enforcement officials breaking up a crowd near his business on an early night of the protests. He was fired by then-Mayor Greg Fischer after it was determined officers were not wearing operational body cameras at the time of that shooting. Fischer faced intense pressure to step down amid the 2020 protests but remained in office until his third and final term expired at the end of 2022.The city of Louisville later settled with Taylor's family for $12 million and agreed to a number of police reforms.Reach The Courier Journal's breaking news team at [email protected].

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‘Disrespect for the people.’ Garland issues scathing report into LMPD practices

By |2023-03-08T12:23:47-05:00March 8th, 2023|Breonna Taylor|

The U.S. Department of Justice released scathing findings Wednesday from its "pattern-or-practice” investigation into Louisville Metro Police on Wednesday.The department, for years, "has practiced an aggressive style of policing that it deploys selectively, especially against Black people, but also against vulnerable people throughout the city," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference from Metro Hall on Wednesday morning. "LMPD cites people for minor offenses, like wide turns and broken taillights, while serious crimes like sexual assault and homicide go unsolved."Some officers demonstrate disrespect for the people they are sworn to protect."The 90-page report found the department:Uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and unreasonable use of police dogs and tasersConducts searches based on invalid warrants.Unlawfully executes warrants without knocking and announcing.Unlawfully stops, searches, detains and arrests people during traffic and pedestrian stops.Violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech critical of policing.Discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities while responding to crises.Garland said the Justice Department, Louisville Metro Government and Metro Police have agreed in principle to negotiate a consent decree.The Justice Department has proposed 36 remedial measures LMPD can take.The probe began after Breonna Taylor’s death and accusations of unconstitutional behavior and discrimination. Garland announced in April 2021 that police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis would face federal investigations. Both cities saw mass protests in 2020 as news of the police killings of two Black residents – Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis − reverberated around the world. While Garland said the Minneapolis probe was prompted by Floyd’s May 2020 death in which an officer kneeled on his neck for over nine minutes, he did not indicate then whether Louisville's investigation was prompted by the shooting of Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician who was killed during a March 2020 narcotics raid at her apartment that turned up no drugs or money.  DOJ indictments in Breonna Taylor case:Experts predict who has the edge, the feds or the charged officersThe FBI also has been investigating Taylor’s killing separately. The DOJ also has charged several Louisville officers in separate cases since 2020, including four former LMPD personnel in early August on charges either of lying on the warrant obtained to search Taylor’s home, obstructing investigators or — in the case of ex-Detective Brett Hankison — firing bullets that entered a neighboring apartment. Various local officials, including former Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and former LMPD Chief Erika Shields, who took over as leader of the department in January 2021 but resigned at the start of 2023 as new Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg took office, had said they welcomed the DOJ probe as part of the city’s push to improve its police department and relationships with residents. (Greenberg picked Deputy Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel to serve as his interim LMPD chief as he takes office and searches for a permanent chief.)In early September, Fischer and Shields both said the city has "not waited" in implementing various reforms.DOJ police department investigations:Are Department of Justice investigations a path to police reform or 'a war on cops'?Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, previously tweeted that “I can’t wait for the world to see Louisville Police Department for what it really is,” in response to the DOJ’s announced investigation. No officers were directly indicted and prosecuted by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s office for Taylor’s death, though several were later fired or submitted resignations. Hankison was charged at the state level in 2020 with wanton endangerment for firing bullets that went into an apartment neighboring Taylor's that was occupied by three people, and a jury acquitted him in March. What happened to Breonna Taylor?Breonna Taylor died after several LMPD officers forced their way into her southwest Louisville apartment with a battering ram around 12:40 a.m. March 13, 2020, with a search warrant to look for drugs and cash as part of a larger narcotics investigation connected to her ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover. Breonna Taylor fact check:Separating the rumors from the factsTaylor’s boyfriend at the time of her death, Kenneth Walker, fired a single shot from his legally owned handgun at the door as officers busted it down, telling investigators later that he feared intruders, not police, were breaking in. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly was hit by Walker’s shot and fired six rounds in response. Detective Myles Cosgrove fired 16 shots, and Hankison fired 10 shots. Six of those bullets struck Taylor, with Cosgrove firing the fatal shot, the FBI concluded. What has happened since Breonna Taylor's death?The case led cities and states to pass laws banning or limiting no-knock search warrants, and it resulted in various changes and reforms, some still pending, at LMPD following a $12 million settlement the city reached with the Taylor family. In November, the city also settled with Walker for $2 million after he sued Louisville and several of the officers who were part of the 2020 raid.LMPD and Metro Government leaders said the city has made changes and reforms since 2020, including fixes in response to a review of the police department from Chicago-based consulting firm Hillard Heintze.The 2021 report from Hillard Heintze made 102 recommendations to turn around a department it found had failed to establish mutual trust and provide equitable treatment across Louisville's neighborhoods.A dashboard on LMPD's website most recently showed that 37% of the Hillard Heintze recommendations had been "implemented" and 47% were "in process," with others still under review.Breonna Taylor shootingA 2-year timeline shows how her death has changed usCity officials estimated in 2021 that reforms at LMPD prompted by the DOJ investigation could cost Louisville up to $10 million annually, and the city directed some federal American Rescue Plan funds to that area. The changes have already included a new Accountability and Improvement Bureau at LMPD and launch of an early warning system for officers after years of delays.This story will be updated.

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DOJ’s report into Louisville police: How people are responding on social media

By |2023-03-08T12:23:48-05:00March 8th, 2023|Breonna Taylor|

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the findings of a sweeping investigation of Louisville's police department on Wednesday, the result of a nearly two-year probe following the killing of Breonna Taylor.The investigation, announced in April 2021 after nearly a year of protests over Taylor's killing at the hands of LMPD officers, aimed to assess "all types of force" used by local police, including potential violations of the First Amendment, whether the department engages in discriminatory policing and whether it worked in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.Live updates:Findings of federal investigation into LMPD after Breonna Taylor's killing coming WednesdayTwitter reaction to LMPD, Breonna Taylor findings

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Read full US Department of Justice report on Louisville police violations and recommended reform

By |2023-03-08T12:23:54-05:00March 8th, 2023|Breonna Taylor|

Nearly two years after announcing plans to investigate Louisville Metro and the city's police department in the aftermath of the killing of Breonna Taylor, the U.S. Department of Justice released its scathing report Wednesday.The report is 90 pages long, with a lengthy list of reported violations. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was set to discuss the release at a press conference Wednesday in downtown Louisville.The report includes 36 recommended remedial measures as well, closing by noting the department "has reasonable cause to believe that Louisville Metro and LMPD engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law. Louisville Metro’s and LMPD’s unlawful practices harm community members and undermine public safety.""We look forward to working with city and police leaders, officers, and the broader Louisville community to stop the unlawful practices, build trust, and ensure that Louisville Metro and LMPD serve and protect the people of Louisville," it concludes.Updating:Findings of federal investigation into LMPD after Breonna Taylor's killing coming WednesdayCheck out the full report here.View in new tab

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Live updates: Findings of federal investigation into LMPD after Breonna Taylor’s killing coming Wednesday

By |2023-03-08T10:24:50-05:00March 8th, 2023|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee|

The Courier Journal has learned that the U.S. Department of Justice is set to announce the findings of a sweeping investigation of Louisville Metro and the city's police department on Wednesday, the result of a nearly two-year probe following the killing of Breonna Taylor.The investigation, announced in April 2021 after nearly a year of protests over Taylor's killing at the hands of LMPD officers, aimed to assess "all types of force" used by local police, including potential violations of the First Amendment, whether the department engages in discriminatory policing and whether it worked in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.Recent headlines:Louisville police contract negotiations won't be made public. Why some want to change that"The investigation will include a comprehensive review of LMPD policies, training, and supervision, as well as LMPD’s systems of accountability, including misconduct complaint intake, investigation, review, disposition, and discipline," the department's announcement on April 26, 2021, said.What happened in the Breonna Taylor caseTaylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician in Louisville, was shot and killed by LMPD officers serving a no-knock warrant at her apartment in the early-morning hours of March 13, 2020. Her death was a key factor behind national protests that summer over police killings of Black Americans and was at the center of months of demonstrations in Louisville, and Wednesday's announcement comes nearly three years after the fatal shooting.After Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team of prosecutors presented the shooting to a grand jury, just one officer who fired their weapon that night was indicted locally – Brett Hankison, on wanton endangerment charges stemming from rounds he fired that entered a neighbor's apartment. He was acquitted in March 2022.In August 2022, however, four former officers were indicted by a federal grand jury – Hankison, on excessive force charges, along with Joshua Jaynes, Kelly Ann Goodlett and Kyle Meany, who were accused of taking steps to falsify the warrant used in the raid at Taylor's apartment. Goodlett later pleaded guilty, while charges against the other former officers are still pending.Steve Conrad, who was LMPD's chief at the time of Taylor's death, was fired in June 2020 after local barbecue stand owner David McAtee was shot and killed by law enforcement officials breaking up a crowd near his business on an early night of the protests. He was fired by then-Mayor Greg Fischer after it was determined officers were not wearing operational body cameras at the time of that shooting. Fischer faced intense pressure to step down amid the 2020 protests but remained in office until his third and final term expired at the end of 2022.The city of Louisville later settled with Taylor's family for $12 million and agreed to a number of police reforms.Reach The Courier Journal's breaking news team at [email protected].

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Meet D’Corey Johnson: ‘Old soul’ Louisville 10-year-old with a big voice and bright future

By |2023-03-03T06:37:22-05:00March 3rd, 2023|Breonna Taylor|

D'Corey Johnson believes he has talent that can take him far. Now, he's taking steps to get there.The 10-year-old has performed the national anthem at NFL games. His song "Breonna Taylor," about a fellow Louisville native, is on streaming services, and you can see him on the stage this spring in a musical touring the country before he pursues a professional career.Before the world heard his voice, though, D'Corey — who also goes by D.C. — was just another 4-year-old singing in his church choir in Louisville, where his talent first stood out. He can remember testing his range, he said, and realizing he had the potential to go places."I was like 'Oh my Jesus, did I just really hit that high note?'" he said, looking back on his time in the choir. "I was like 'Yeah, I believe that I'm going to be a star.'"'Our park':For 100 years, this Olmsted park fostered generations of Black LouisvilliansD'Corey's mother enrolled him in theater classes at the Louisville Central Community Center, a West End organization that helps people develop skills in fields including arts and academia. He earned a place in the program after performing "Who's Loving You" by the Jackson 5 for LCCC President and CEO Kevin Fields, who said the then-6-year-old's audition "knocked my socks off" and earned a standing ovation.The LCCC founded the Tiny Tykes, a performing arts program for preteens, to support D'Corey, who was too young to join other groups, and before long he was playing roles locally in musicals like "Aladdin," "Cats" and "Annie." Erica Denise Bledsaw, the LCCC's manager of youth education and fine arts between 2014 and 2019, said when she heard him sing, she saw the "old soul" shine."He sang with so much passion, so much conviction, like he'd been here before," she said. "And I had never seen anything like it in such a small body and in such a small package."His first big break came during morning announcements at Bates Elementary. The principal of his school asked him to sing the national anthem on the intercom for the school one day and posted the video online with his mother's permission.The clip went viral, and soon, pro teams and others came calling. He sang the anthem at Nissan Stadium in Nashville before a 2022 game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants, for instance, and performed "Lift Every Voice And Sing" in honor of Black History Month at state Capitol last year. He got a legislative citation by Sen. Gerald Neal when he sang in the Kentucky Senate."It is overwhelming, but it's fun. It's exciting. It's new," Nakia Johnson, his mother, said. "D'Corey, once he sung at school and he went viral, we haven't been on a slowdown since. He's been in great demand."Fields said D'Corey is "probably larger than life" and expects to see him on the big stage someday. He's already had a few brushes with fame, meeting Mario Lopez at a boxing match in 2021 and meeting Nick Cannon the same year at Globe Life Field in Texas.His chance could be coming soon, with a key role this spring in Hits! The Musical, which features music from different eras with Dionne Warwick as executive producer. He'll be back in his hometown on April 8 for a show at the Brown Theatre along with fellow Louisville native Karsen Taylor, who also has a role in the show.Plan ahead:Sewer work will close several road blocks by NuLu and downtown Louisville until summerD'Corey has big plans for his future. He said after the tour his family is planning to move to California, where he hopes his budding career takes off. Someday, he wants to perform on Broadway and in movies for platforms like Disney+ and Netflix."He's always been hungry for entertainment and for performing," Bledsaw said. "And so as long as he stays focused, and continues to get the training, necessary to hone his craft, and continues to work hard at it, the sky's the limit for D.C."And through enrolling him in classes to moving to Los Angeles for movie and TV auditions, his mother said she's committed to helping him reach that potential. His voice, she said, is "always for all people.""D.C. is always for all people. And when he open up his voice, you see no color. D.C. brings everybody together," Johnson said. "You have a 10-year-old child they can make grown men cry, and this says a lot."Reach Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez at [email protected]; follow her on Twitter at @SoyAnaAlvarez.

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From college football to a JCPS job: Q&A with a new Metro Council member

By |2023-02-16T05:45:33-05:00February 16th, 2023|Breonna Taylor|

The life of one of the newest Louisville Metro Council members, as he puts it, has "always been about competition."Whether competing on the wrestling mat and gridiron, serving as a law office "runner" and then also running for political office, or working to ensure students in Louisville have their basic needs met, Phillip Baker is often on the move.His latest endeavor is serving on Metro Council as the recently appointed member for District 6, which covers part of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods such as Limerick, Old Louisville, Park Hill, Shelby Park, Smoketown and Russell.Sitting members of Louisville's legislative body picked Baker earlier in February to serve out the rest of David James' term, after the ex-Metro Council president joined Mayor Craig Greenberg's administration.As Baker gets settled into the new role, he spoke with The Courier Journal about his family, background and priorities while in office. Some answers have been edited for length and clarity.What was your childhood like? It sounds like service to the community is a theme in your family.Baker: "I'm from Winchester, Kentucky, and grew up there until 9th grade. I'm the grandson of the Rev. Henry Edward Baker, one of the first Kentucky Human Rights Commission Civil Rights Hall of Fame inductees. My father is a local pastor here at Christ Way Missionary Baptist Church. My mom is a lawyer. My sister, Dr. Jeronda Majors, will be the principal of the new West End middle school and has been the principal of Knight Middle School. My sister and brother were arrested during the Breonna Taylor protests. I went to Central High School. I took second in state in wrestling and played football. I went to Tennessee State University and played center (on the football team). I earned a degree in communication. Today, my wife and I have three kids, all boys — Phillip Jr., 13, Preston Henry Edward, 9, and Peyton Lee, 4. My wife, Tiffiny, is a teacher at Mill Creek Elementary School. We live in Old Louisville.In high school, I was a 'runner' for Wyatt Tarrant and Combs. I later got my insurance license and am a multiple line agent for State Farm. I thought I would never be like my dad, but he is also a State Farm agent (laughs)."Background:Louisville Metro Council picks 2 JCPS employees to fill its vacant seatsWhy did you seek this Metro Council seat?Baker: "My passion is to serve. That's all we knew. I'm a Family Resource Coordinator for Jefferson County Public Schools (at Coleridge-Taylor Montessori Elementary). My FRC position is everything I want to do. I'm feeding people. We're getting kids on buses, meeting parents, knocking on doors for truancies. I'm able to speak to someone if, for example, this person has an LG&E issue, helping them if they ask, 'How does LIHEAP work?' (Baker, among other positions, also serves on the Kentucky Derby Festival Board.)My first campaign was for (Kentucky House) District 41 in 2016 against Tom Riner and Attica Scott. (Scott won.) I ran for House District 43 in 2018. (Charles Booker won that Democratic primary and general election.) We started the Greater Louisville Association of Democrats to support Black political participation.I run to fulfill that need for service. I also coach in the Louisville Youth Football League with the Shively Seminoles."What are your top few priorities to tackle while in office?Baker: "Where I live has shaped my priorities. Public safety is key, but a true passion of mine is improving the health and wellness of seniors and youth. If you go down Fourth Street, you have Treyton Oaks, Puritan, Hillebrand House ... when you go in to visit these seniors ... we need to do better. The facilities, the upkeep, making sure they have dignity. They deserve it.Improving parks, like Ben Washer Park at Fifth and Kentucky streets. I want interconnectivity with other districts, like the neighboring 3rd District and the parks there. I want to make sure we are connecting residents and providing a level of customer service."Kentucky coal mining:Did mining play a role in 2022 Kentucky flood deaths? Group wants feds to investigateWill you run again in November and in 2024?Baker: "Absolutely. I'm going to seek the Democratic nomination. I have every intention of running. On the 2024 ballot, you will see Phillip Thomas Baker, unless something drastic happens."What do you and your family like to do together?Baker: "We love sporting events, basketball, football, soccer. We're always at a local game. We love the outdoors, maybe a byproduct of the pandemic. You'll see my big old butt hiking or kayaking at Tioga Falls or Beckley Creek Park. We go to church together. We're always serving and giving food out."Reach Billy Kobin at [email protected]

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