FacebookXInstagram

Why Louisville's police chief is on an Atlanta billboard trying to poach officers

By |2022-03-16T10:35:57-04:00March 16th, 2022|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Election 2020|

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — If you're swinging through Georgia and happen to notice Louisville Metro Police Chief Erika Shields and her assistant chief on a billboard in downtown Atlanta, your eyes are not tricking you.In a bid to chip away at ongoing staffing shortages, Louisville police is having its recruitment team make the 400-mile trek to the Georgia capital, and the department said it plans on advertising in more cities throughout the country.On Tuesday, the new billboard featuring a photo of Shields and Deputy Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel and part of the Louisville skyline behind them went up near Atlanta City Hall, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported."JOIN US IN LOUISVILLE," the billboard says, with "LATERALS WELCOME" and "LMPDJOBS.COM" listed below next to a QR code.Jonathan Mattingly book:Grievances abound in ex-Louisville cop's tell-all book on the Breonna Taylor shootingThe choice to try to poach officers from Georgia's largest city is especially noteworthy, given that Shields and Gwinn-VIllaroel both moved to LMPD in January 2021 after serving with the Atlanta Police Department for over 20 years.“I know that APD is well trained and very diverse," Shields said in a statement LMPD provided Tuesday to The Courier Journal. "Just as I know LMPD has an enormous amount to offer prospective officers. I’m hopeful we can glean some solid hires from our recruitment trips, of which Atlanta is one such stop."Shields resigned from Atlanta Police in June 2020 after one of her officers fatally shot Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, in the parking lot of a Wendy's.The death of Brooks came not long after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis as well as police killing two Black residents, Breonna Taylor and David McAtee, in Louisville, with all of those cases helping lead to nationwide protests.Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer fired then-LMPD Chief Steve Conrad following McAtee's death after learning officers did not have their body cameras on. Shields took over in January 2021 after LMPD went through two interim chiefs.LMPD spokeswoman Angela Ingram told The Courier Journal that members of the the department's Recruitment and Selection Team will be in Atlanta beginning March 23 through March 27."Although LMPD recruits for new officers and lateral transfers year-round, next week is the first out-of-state testing opportunity hosted by LMPD. This will allow potential applicants the luxury of completing testing in a one-stop-shop without having to travel to Louisville," Ingram said. "We are hopeful that the trip will yield a host of qualified candidates. Thus far, the billboard is only in Atlanta; however, we expect to advertise in cities throughout the country."Ingram also said a lateral class will begin May 30, while a new police officer class starts June 20, with additional lateral and new officer classe scheduled for the fall.LMPD notes on its website that lateral officers, who must have served for at least four years, are eligible for an $8,000 hiring bonus, $3,000 relocation incentive (if moving over 75 miles) and a take-home vehicle as soon as they get assigned to a patrol division.Those with over 10 years of sworn experience start at an annual salary of $75,552, according to LMPD.In December, Metro Council members also voted to approve pay raises for LMPD officers and sergeants. Starting in July, new officers will make about $3,000 more annually, starting at $52,561 per year, based on the new contract. LMPD officers with two to three years of experience had been making $57,803, but under the new contract, will make $63,003 through June 2022 and to $66,788 in 2022-23.Lt. Kevin Knapp, president of Atlanta’s police union, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he would not be surprised if some officers leave for Louisville, saying they would get a raise over their current pay.“You’re talking about a major metropolitan city, so there’s room for advancement,” Knapp said of Louisville. “It’s a huge concern. Louisville’s not going to be the only jurisdiction coming to Atlanta to try and recruit officers.”The department has ramped up recruitment efforts on social media in recent months as well, using platforms like TikTok and Twitter to try to reach more candidates.LMPD has struggled with staffing shortages and resignations the past two years, when more personnel started to leave after months of protests against police brutality and as homicide rates reached record levels.As The Courier Journal reported last September, many officers left for smaller, better-paying departments in cities surrounding Louisville.LMPD currently has 1,033 sworn personnel, according to its March data, about 300 short of its goal for full staffing.Reach Billy Kobin at [email protected].

Read More

Louisville's Black leaders urge unity as anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death approaches

By |2022-03-12T09:37:08-05:00March 12th, 2022|A Path Forward, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Election 2020|

As the second anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death nears, Black leaders from Louisville disussed community, politics, racial healing and mobilization Friday night.The talk was part of a series of events sponsored by Justice 4 Louisville and the Breonna Taylor Foundation this weekend, which will also include a free concert Saturday and a nationwide balloon release in Taylor's memory Sunday.March 13 marks the second anniversary of the death of Taylor, a 26-year-old unarmed Black woman who was killed by Louisville Metro Police in her home while they were serving a search warrant.Panelists included two of the city's mayoral candidates:The Rev. Tim Findley, founder of the Justice and Freedom Coalition,And Shameka Parrish-Wright, a prominent social justice activist and co-chair of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist;Newly elected state Rep. Keturah Herron, D-42nd District;Metro Councilman Jecorey Arthur, D-4th District;Tracy Davis, an attorney running for Jefferson County District Court judge in District 3;Lonita Baker, an attorney that represented Taylor's family in the civil lawsuit and president of the Charles W. Anderson Jr. Bar Association;And Sadiqa Reynolds, president of the Louisville Urban League.The discussion was moderated by Nicole Hayden, a local social justice activist and business owner.Related: Editorial: Louisville not finished seeking justice for Breonna TaylorHere are key takeaways from the discussion:Black Louisvillians need to unite and engage in politicsArthur, the youngest Metro Council member in Louisville's history, said no single politician has ever saved anyone and encouraged people to get involved in politics. "It took masses of Black people, some enslaved and some free, and their allies to abolish slavery. It took masses of Black people throughout the '50s and '60s and their allies to abolish segregation, to abolish Jim Crow. It took masses of Black people throughout 2020 and our allies to get no-knock warrants banned. It's never just about one single person."He and others at Friday's panel said Black people often are divided. Findley attributes some of that division to trauma in the Black community."Nothing can get done if I don't have the community behind me," Arthur said.Reynolds said Black people have to learn to move differently. Other communities, other faiths and other races stick together, she said."We have got to figure out a way — on the stuff where we can — to find a way to use our power together so we can actually move the needle," She said. "We have been so divided sometimes we can't get things done."Diverse representation is needed to improve livesDavis, who is running for a District Court judgeship, said people in positions of power, especially in the criminal justice system, need to understand what people of different cultures, races and socioeconomic statuses go through.“We all have, believe it or not, have unconscious bias. Every single person," she said.Herron, who won their seat during a special election last month, is the first LGBTQ member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. One of Herron's priorities is to create an office of gun violence to address gun violence, suicide prevention, child abuse and domestic violence.Awash in Guns:‘It’s real easy to get a gun’ in Louisville. And it’s costing livesAnother focus is restoring the voting rights of those with felony convictions and getting young people out to vote.In June 2020, following the deaths of Taylor and David McAtee at the hands of police and National Guard, Black leaders in Louisville published A Path Forward for Louisville, a petition that outlines solutions to systemic problems and racial disparities in Louisville.Reynolds, representing the Urban League, said the group of leaders still meet every Friday to discuss jobs, justice, education, health and housing for Black people.Here's what they've been working on:Increasing the number of Black-owned business owners by helping start-ups with infrastructure, marketing, businesses plans and access to capital. The group is working with Amplify Louisville, a business organization that helps small startups. Paying for intensive tutoring services in math and reading for children whose families can't afford it. Increasing social and emotional support for individuals by working with mental health providers so they can take insurance. Reynolds said anxiety, depression and suicides are increasing. "There's so much pain in our community," she said. The group helped sponsor a community mental health day this month.Building and rehabbing 15 houses for rent.Kala Kachmar is an investigative reporter. Reach her at 502-582-4469; [email protected] or @NewsQuip on Twitter. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/subscribe.

Read More

Louisville police took $18K from Black driver in unlawful search and arrest, lawsuit says

By |2021-11-17T05:34:08-05:00November 17th, 2021|David McAtee|

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Kentucky man has sued three Louisville Metro Police officers and former police Chief Steve Conrad, saying he was unlawfully searched and charged with drug offenses during a traffic stop because he is Black.The lawsuit filed on behalf of Karim Codrington, a 32-year-old Army veteran from Radcliff, also accuses police of false arrest, malicious prosecution, failure to train and intervene and unlawfully seizing at least $18,000.The lawsuit, filed Nov. 3 in U.S. District Court by attorney Shaun Wimberly on behalf of Karim Codrington, names Officers Jay Dolak, Tyler Blissett and John Kirk as well as Conrad and Louisville Metro Government as defendants.Claims made in a lawsuit represent only one side of a case.LMPD does not comment on pending litigation. Conrad, who was fired last summer after the fatal shooting of David McAtee, could not be reached for comment.Louisville woman dies:100+ protest outside Indiana jail seeking answers in strange death of Ta'Neasha ChappellAccording to his lawsuit, Codrington had parked his black Dodge Charger at a Thorntons gas station pump at Seventh Street and Algonquin Parkway a few minutes before 1 a.m. on Aug. 10, 2018.He was talking on a phone, and Dolak and Blissett then drove up and blocked Codrington's car, according to the suit.Dolak "immediately asked if there were any weapons in the car," and Codrington replied that he had a firearm, according to the complaint.Dolak then asked Codrington to exit the vehicle, which the man did before the officers patted him down, per the lawsuit. Blissett put his hands in the pockets of Codrington's clothing during the search, the suit adds.Dolak next asked Codrington if he could go inside the vehicle, and Codrington refused to consent, according to the suit.The officers asked Codrington for his driver's license and concealed carry permit, which Codrington showed them, the suit says.A K-9 officer and additional officers showed up to the gas station, and Codrington kept denying the requests from Dolak and Blissett to search his vehicle, according to the lawsuit.Dolak became "disgruntled" and then asked Codrington for proof of automobile insurance, but when Codrington attempted to pull out his insurance card, Dolak refused to let him show it, according to the complaint.Dolak then issued "an ultimatum" to Codrington — either let officers search the vehicle or face a charge of failure to produce an insurance card, according to the lawsuit.Codrington continued to refuse, but Kirk then initiated at least two "false dog sniffs" with his K-9, the lawsuit says. One was prompted by Kirk "throwing an object into Mr. Codrington's vehicle," which resulted in the K-9 entering the vehicle and retrieving the object, according to the complaint.Codrington was then handcuffed, with the officers searching his vehicle and finding a "small amount of marijuana" and cash "totaling at least $50,000," the suit says.He was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana and meth, buying and possessing drugs, tampering with physical evidence and loitering, according to the lawsuit and court records. Wimberly, his attorney, said body camera footage suggests police could have planted the meth after detaining the man.Social worker 'crisis':Frustrated state social workers gather at Kentucky Capitol to protest working conditionsBut the charges were dismissed in Jefferson Circuit Court in November 2020, according to online records and the lawsuit.In court, the lawsuit says, Dolak falsely asserted the reason for the traffic stop and search was due to concerns over Codrington's "wellness" and that he "had already called for a K-9 dog." Body camera footage "does not reveal an audible call for K-9," Jefferson Circuit Judge Brian Edwards wrote in a court opinion that granted Codrington's request to suppress evidence the officers collected during the stop.Dolak had also testified the gas station was in a "high-crime area," and that gas stations are often used as "drug trafficking," Edwards wrote in his March 2020 order.But that alone, along with any "nervousness" exhibited by Codrington, is "not sufficient to create reasonable articulable suspicion" of criminal activity, Edwards wrote.Codrington was "cooperative, did not appear under the influence of any intoxicants, was in possession of a valid license and had no outstanding warrants," the judge wrote. "... Mr. Codrington's constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure was violated, and the resulting seizure was 'fruit of the poisonous tree' that must be suppressed."Once his case was dismissed, Codrington sought to retrieve the seized money from LMPD but noticed at least $18,000 was missing, according to his suit. His attempt to recover the money has been denied, the lawsuit says.Related:Louisville pays Black couple $75K for traffic stop. But they can't talk bad about policeAs for why Codrington — who served overseas in Afghanistan while in the Army — had a larger amount of cash in his vehicle, Wimberly said his client was in the process of using it to secure a new home and had documentation and bank statements to back all of it up.Wimberly noted at least eight other lawsuits have been filed since January 2019 alleging LMPD and its officers have violated the rights of Black drivers through unconstitutional traffic stops and searches. (The attorney himself claimed he was racially profiled in one of those lawsuits against the department.)The suit also cites past Courier Journal reports into LMPD's pattern of stopping and searching Black drivers at a disproportionate rate, and it notes last year's Hillard Heintze review of LMPD, which found Black drivers made up 34% of traffic stops in 2019 while representing 21.2% of the city's population.After the controversial 2018 stop of Tae-Ahn Lea, a Black teen who was pulled from his car one day before Codrington, frisked and handcuffed while a drug-sniffing dog and police searched his vehicle, only to find no contraband, Conrad announced in May 2019 he was curtailing LMPD's practice of removing motorists from their cars and handcuffing them while their vehicle is searched.Federal probe of LMPD:DOJ investigation fixes could cost Louisville up to $10 million a yearThe U.S. Department of Justice is investigating LMPD and the city's "patterns and practices," including whether police discriminate against people based on race.LMPD Chief Erika Shields, who took over the department this year, said in September her department was working toward implementing a system that will track the race and gender of the subject of traffic stops.Among other requests, Codrington's lawsuit seeks $18,000 in damages to recoup his cash as well as punitive damages.The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings in the Western District of Kentucky, with future court hearings not yet scheduled.Reach Billy Kobin at [email protected].

Read More

Gov. Andy Beshear wants body cameras, big pay raises for Kentucky State Police

By |2021-11-09T16:27:10-05:00November 9th, 2021|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee|

Gov. Andy Beshear's proposed budget request for the Kentucky State Police next year will include $12.2 million for the agency's troopers to be equipped with body cameras for the first time.The governor's budget request also proposes a $15,000 raise for state troopers and an $8,000 raise for dispatch telecommunicators, part of an effort to recruit new hires and retain current personnel, who are increasingly leaving for other law enforcement agencies that pay more.At a press conference Tuesday with KSP and Justice Cabinet leadership, Beshear said the "historic investments" of his budget proposal would amount to the single largest pay increase ever for state troopers."Both KSP troopers and dispatchers deserve the respect and the stability that comes from competitive wages, and none of them should have to have a second job with what they do for us to provide for their family," Beshear said. "I hope that this is a commitment that is seen and understood by the state to do our part for these individuals that are doing theirs."On the proposal to equip state troopers for the first time with body cameras to record interactions with the public, Beshear said they are "critical for public transparency and accountability," but also "provide just as much protection to law enforcement officers themselves by documenting exactly what happens in any situation.""Body cameras address that 'he said, he said' situation, where they are not drug into court by someone who would claim something that didn't happen happened — protecting that officer and ensuring the right outcome."The Louisville Metro Police Department became the first law enforcement agency in Kentucky to require officers to wear body cameras in 2015, but former KSP leadership resisted efforts to do so for years, saying the agency could not afford the expense.An investigation by The Marshall Project and Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting this summer found KSP troopers fatally shot at least 41 people over the past five years — more than any other law enforcement agency in the state and more people in rural communities than any other department in the nation.ACLU:Kentucky State Police review of training materials quoting Hitler falls shortJustice Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey said Tuesday the body cameras would be a win for both the public and KSP troopers, as "effective policing requires public trust in law enforcement.""I'm convinced that in the event of controversy, the record made by this tool will demonstrate that our troopers act professionally and appropriately in an overwhelming majority of difficult encounters," Harvey said. "In the relatively few cases — and I mean the very few cases — where the encounter is not as we would hope, these recording devices will be a valuable tool to ensure that justice is done and appropriate corrections are made." KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said the raises for personnel are what is needed to reverse the high turnover rate in the agency, as they employed more than 1,000 troopers in 2016 but just 736 today. That current figure is the lowest since 1988, with 70% of recent troopers leaving saying they did so because of the low salary.In addition to paying state troopers less than every surrounding state, Burnett said KSP "ranks 74th in starting pay within Kentucky law enforcement agencies and is currently trailing by $10,000 to $30,000 a year depending upon the agency, rank and tenure."The annual starting pay for KSP troopers is currently $40,000, while dispatchers start at $32,000.KSP:The Courier Journal sues Kentucky State Police for release of David McAtee investigationBeshear also proposed a $600 increase in what officers are paid upon completing their mandated in-service training, and intends to include law enforcement officers in his proposal to use $400 million in federal funds next year to give bonuses to essential workers employed throughout two full years of the pandemic.Ryan Straw, the government affairs director for the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, said the organization's 11,000 members were grateful for the governor including the extra pay in his budget request.Whether or not the funding for KSP raises or body cameras comes to fruition will be up the the Republican supermajority of the Kentucky General Assembly — who Beshear noted had rejected his past budget proposal to give raises to KSP troopers.Legislators begin the 2022 legislative session the first week of January, tasked with passing a two-year state budget by the time they adjourn in mid-April.Reach reporter Joe Sonka at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today at the top of this page.

Read More

Former Louisville cop pleads guilty to hitting kneeling Breonna Taylor protester in head

By |2021-08-04T18:26:24-04:00August 4th, 2021|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee|

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Former Louisville Metro Police Department officer Cory Evans pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to a felony committed while on the job, admitting he struck a kneeling protester in the back of the head with a riot stick.Evans, 33 of Sellersburg, Indiana, was charged June 9 with deprivation of rights under color of law for the incident, which took place around May 31, 2020, in the early days of widespread protests over the death of Breonna Taylor, an unarmed Black woman who LMPD officers killed in her apartment March 2020 during a search for drugs and cash.District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings will sentence Evans at 10 a.m. Nov. 23. He will remain free on bond until then, with Grady Jennings saying Evans was unlikely to flee.Evans and his defense attorney Brian Butler agreed to a plea deal with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gregory, but it has yet to be accepted by the judge.As a part of the agreement, Evans would have to pay $1,962.85 in restitution and would not be sentenced to serve more than four years in prison.The charge's maximum penalty can carry up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and restitution.“While the vast majority of law enforcement officers are hardworking professionals who work conscientiously to protect the public, Cory Evans was simply not one of those officers,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Gray of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office said in a news release after the hearing."This case provides another example that abusing that power and authority will not be tolerated in Louisville.”If the case had gone to trial, Gregory said the prosecution would have presented testimony, video and other evidence proving Evans' guilt.Gregory said Evans was working curfew duty for the LMPD Special Response Team when they encountered a group of protesters — including the victim, who is identified only as M.C. — near Brook Street and Broadway in downtown Louisville.M.C. had kneeled and raised their hands to surrender when Evans struck them in the back of the head, creating a gash that required stitches at the hospital that night.M.C. did not make a request to be heard in court.As a part of his bond, Evans is required to submit to supervision and surrender his passport and any guns he owns. Grady Jennings indicated she will allow Evans to travel to Texas for three weeks in order to train for a new job he will soon begin.Evans resigned from LMPD less than a week after being charged and after the department moved to fire him.The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division can charge individuals under nine Title 18 civil rights statutes, including deprivation of rights under the color of law.That makes it a crime for anyone acting on behalf of the law, including police officers or other public officials, to deprive someone of their Constitutional rights.Evans was previously scheduled to be arraigned and enter a "change of plea" on July 14, but the judge agreed to delay the hearing after a joint motion from the case's attorneys.According to Kentucky law, police officers lose their certification with the state for pleading guilty to or being convicted of a felony offense.A Courier Journal analysis of Evans' use of force history shows he was involved in at least 27 incidents in his roughly seven years as a sworn officer — including two that took place after he is accused of hitting the demonstrator.In fact, 21 of those incidents took place between the beginning of 2018 and June 2020. LMPD did not limit Evans' policing powers until July 23 when he was placed on administrative reassignment."A professional standards investigation was initiated," a LMPD spokesperson said. "However, it was stayed in deference of the federal investigations to ensure it would not impede the federal process."Evans is not the only LMPD officer under federal scrutiny.Dusten Dean, captured on video shooting pepper balls at a local TV news crew, is under federal investigation for those actions, The Courier Journal previously reported.These probes are in addition to the FBI's ongoing investigations into the fatal police shooting of Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman killed in her home last March, and the death of David McAtee, who was shot by a member of the Kentucky National Guard.Reach Tessa Duvall at [email protected] and 502-582-4059. Twitter: @TessaDuvall.

Read More

Dino's Food Mart, once ordered to vacate as nuisance, sues Metro Council members

By |2021-07-29T18:27:35-04:00July 29th, 2021|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee|

Dino's Food Mart, a convenience store in the West End that fought off a public nuisance order, has filed a lawsuit alleging defamation by members of the Louisville Metro Council.  Metro Council President David James, former Councilwoman Denise Bentley and District 5 Councilwoman Donna Purvis — who represents the district the store is in, at 2601 W. Broadway in Russell — are listed as defendants. The suit was filed last week and accuses the three of engaging "in a civil conspiracy wherein they were involved in the unlawfulcorrupt combination or agreement to slander, defame, and deprive Plaintiffs of their property," according to court records.Lawsuits represent one one side of a case.Purvis declined to comment on the lawsuit. James said he has not read the lawsuit, and Bentley, who is a legislative assistant for Purvis, said she has not received anything and that the council does not comment on pending litigation. The three are accused by the store and its landlord, SHM 2601, of making several allegations about the establishment, such as the premises are unsanitary, it allowed for the sale of "spice and crack" and prostitution and that the landlord was the "cause of the shooting of David McAtee."More:Southern Indiana man killed in accidental explosion outside his homeMcAtee was fatally shot June 1, 2020, at his barbecue restaurant across the street when police and the National Guard responded to the scene to disperse a crowd gathered at the food mart after curfew. The curfew had been enacted following several nights of protests over the murder of Breonna Taylor.The store and gas station had been served a public nuisance order in April 2020 following complaints from nearby residents. It was then given an additional citation and ordered to vacate when the city's Department of Codes and Regulations denied its appeal in August.That additional citation listed several reports of assault and drug possession as an additional basis for its qualification as a public nuisance.The Metro Code Enforcement Board upheld in February the order for Dino's to vacate its premises, but the decision was denied by the Jefferson District Court judge in April. City hall:Advocates caught off guard by Louisville plans to address homelessness"The real responsibility for crime in the community is not a small neighborhood store, but the Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville Metro Government are not allocating the proper resources to deal with crime in that neighborhood," the attorney for Dino's, Nader Shunnarah, said at the time. James, Purvis and Bentley are all being sued for negligence, defamation, invasion of privacy, tortious interference of a business, wrongful use of civil proceedings, abuse of process and civil conspiracy. The suit lists a slew of statements James allegedly said, such as "nothing rarely good happens there" and the store is "a vampire, sucking the life out of west Louisville." The business and its landlord also accuse the council members of being discriminatory."Defendants have openly advocated the closure of the middle eastern businesses so that the businesses may be operated by persons of African-American descent," the suit says. Dino's and SHM 2601 said they have suffered from lost business and damage to their reputation and esteem. They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages because the council members' actions "were so oppressive, malicious, willful, wanton, and outrageous," the suit says.Reporter Ben Tobin contributed to this article. How to watch:Gov. Andy Beshear to give update on COVID-19 delta variant in KentuckyContact Ayana Archie at [email protected] or follow on Twitter @AyanaArchie. Support strong local journalism by subscribing to The Courier Journal. 

Read More

Police union lawsuit: Judge tosses case seeking to stop council from approving contracts

By |2021-07-22T16:24:13-04:00July 22nd, 2021|David McAtee|

A Jefferson County judge on Wednesday tossed out a lawsuit seeking to remove Louisville Metro Council from the process of approving police union contracts.The River City Fraternal Order of Police in November filed suit against Metro Government over whether a state law that says the mayor's signature binds a collective bargaining agreement invalidates a local ordinance requiring Metro Council approval.Judge Brian Edwards sided with Metro Government, which argued that because the contract had already been approved by the mayor and Metro Council when the suit was filed, there's no controversy for the court to decide.More: County attorney issues opinion on union contract approvalThe court will not "seek advisory answers to abstract questions," Edwards wrote in the opinion.Meanwhile, the police union and the city continue to wrangle over a new contract. Eight months ago, they agreed to a now-expired contract that was preceded by years of negotiating.Despite the decision on the lawsuit, union officials are optimistic that they'll reach new agreements before the year is over.Since January, leaders of the FOP have been at the table with the mayor's negotiators hoping to renew two employment contracts: one for police officers and sergeants, which expired June 30; and another for lieutenants and captains, which expired on June 30, 2018.The contracts will determine the cost and scope of LMPD police salaries and benefits, as well as the size of the force, at a time when the controversial "defund the police" narrative — the idea that money spent on police officers could and should be spent on other social services — is dominating budget conversations across the country.Major issues of contention include pay raises anda proposal by the union to add at least 250 more officers to a quickly dwindling force, spokesman David Mutchler told The Courier Journal.Louisville Metro's $1.04B budget passes:Who won, who lost, who stayed evenThe negotiations haven't dragged on as long as they have in the past, said Ryan Nichols, president of the FOP. "We’ve accomplished a lot since we started in January," he said. "We addressed the economic side of things sooner rather than later."Given the ground rules, neither party can comment on specifics but the mayor's spokeswoman, Jean Porter, said the process "is moving forward well." "We're hopeful this ruling puts the matter to rest so we can focus on finalizing the contract so it can be presented to Metro Council for its approval," Porter told The Courier Journal.Ariana Levinson, a labor law professor at the University of Louisville Brandies School of Law who has studied the contract with her students, said it's common sense to need Metro Council approval for anything budget-related, especially a costly employment contract.She said a ruling in the FOP's favor would further erode transparency. Though no state law prohibits open negotiations, neither the mayor nor the FOP said they would allow anyone to observe."They don’t report to the public what’s happening," Levinson said. "They don’t provide education — a lot of people don’t understand how important this contract is and that this contract governs the workplace rules. LMPD treats it the same way they treat a specific personnel issue."Concerns about the most recent contract include a "no layoffs" clause, as well as a provision that doesn't allow the unpaid suspension of officers unless "they basically commit the most heinous crime under the sun," she said.For the FOP, one major issue is understaffing. David McAtee: Police action marred by 'poor communication,' confusion and mistakesThe maximum number of officers allowed is 1,300, which was designated when city and county governments merged in 2003. Mutchler said the force is at about 1,040, and could be under 1,000 by the end of August."There’s a lot of things that, as the city grows, they want the police to be involved in, and that just takes a lot of people," Mutchler said. "We’ve never added anything to the ranks. We were hard-pressed to keep up with everything as it was, but now that we’re bleeding off it makes things extremely difficult.”During last year's social justice protests, officers said they were overworked."They worked basically 12-hour days on the riot line, and we had to hold some officers back to respond to calls for service when we could," he said. "There was a period of time when there was no way officers were going to have time off."Mutchler hopes the process moves faster than in the past given the public cry for police accountability. They started negotiations on time this year "out of necessity," he said.While it would be nice to have a judge rule in their favor prior to the ratification of another contract, he said, he'd prefer having a contract "tomorrow.""We need a collective bargaining agreement so the city and offices understand what our obligations are in the future," he said. This story has been updated.Kala Kachmar is an investigative reporter. Reach her at 502-582-4469; [email protected] or @NewsQuip on Twitter. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/subscribe.

Read More

Louisville police union hopes for a new contract before year's end even as it sues city

By |2021-07-22T07:07:47-04:00July 22nd, 2021|David McAtee|

Eight months have passed since the city and the Louisville Metro Police officers' union agreed to a contract — now expired — that was preceded by years of negotiating.But union officials are now optimistic that they'll reach new agreements before the year is over.Since January, leaders of the River City Fraternal Order of Police have been at the table with Metro Government hoping to renew two employment contracts: one for police officers and sergeants, which expired June 30; and another for lieutenants and captains, which expired on June 30, 2018.The contracts will determine the cost and scope of LMPD police salaries and benefits, as well as the size of the force, at a time when the controversial "defund the police" narrative — the idea that money spent on police officers could and should be spent on other social services — is dominating budget conversations across the country.Major issues of contention include pay raises anda proposal by the union to add at least 250 more officers to a quickly dwindling force, spokesman David Mutchler told The Courier Journal.Louisville Metro's $1.04B budget passes:Who won, who lost, who stayed evenThe negotiations haven't dragged on as long as they have in the past, said Ryan Nichols, president of the FOP. "We’ve accomplished a lot since we started in January," he said. "We addressed the economic side of things sooner rather than later."But even as they negotiate, the FOP is gearing up for an Aug. 9 hearing in a lawsuit against the city that seeks to cut Metro Council from the contract approval process. The November 2020 lawsuit stems from a dispute about language in a state law that says the mayor's signature is the "exclusive" method by which such an agreement can be made.Mutchler says the state law "is clear" and that Metro Council doesn't belong in the process, but the Jefferson County Attorney's Office argues Metro Council should be involved because it makes all budget decisions.Ariana Levinson, a labor law professor at the University of Louisville Brandies School of Law who has studied the contract with her students, said it's common sense to need Metro Council approval for anything budget-related, especially a costly employment contract.She said a ruling in the FOP's favor would further erode transparency. Though no state law prohibits open negotiations, neither the mayor nor the FOP said they would allow anyone to observe."They don’t report to the public what’s happening," Levinson said. "They don’t provide education — a lot of people don’t understand how important this contract is and that this contract governs the workplace rules. LMPD treats it the same way they treat a specific personnel issue."Concerns about the most recent contract include a "no layoffs" clause, as well as a provision that doesn't allow the unpaid suspension of officers unless "they basically commit the most heinous crime under the sun," she said.For the FOP, one major issue is understaffing. David McAtee: Police action marred by 'poor communication,' confusion and mistakesThe maximum number of officers allowed is 1,300, which was designated when city and county governments merged in 2003. Mutchler said the force is at about 1,040, and could be under 1,000 by the end of August."There’s a lot of things that, as the city grows, they want the police to be involved in, and that just takes a lot of people," Mutchler said. "We’ve never added anything to the ranks. We were hard-pressed to keep up with everything as it was, but now that we’re bleeding off it makes things extremely difficult.”During last year's social justice protests, officers were overworked."They worked basically 12-hour days on the riot line, and we had to hold some officers back to respond to calls for service when we could," he said. "There was a period of time when there was no way officers were going to have time off."Mutchler hopes the process moves faster than in the past given the public cry for police accountability. They started negotiations on time this year "out of necessity," he said.While it would be nice to have a judge rule in their favor prior to the ratification of another contract, he said, he'd prefer having a contract "tomorrow.""We need a collective bargaining agreement so the city and offices understand what our obligations are in the future," he said. Kala Kachmar is an investigative reporter. Reach her at 502-582-4469; [email protected] or @NewsQuip on Twitter. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/subscribe.

Read More

3 things to know about the Path Forward plan to create a more equitable Louisville

By |2021-07-20T06:47:38-04:00July 20th, 2021|A Path Forward, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee|

In June 2020, following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee at the hands of police and National Guard, respectively, Black leaders in Louisville published A Path Forward for Louisville, a petition that outlines changes and solutions to systemic problems and racial disparities in Louisville.Here are three things to know about the document:What changes did the document call for?A Path Forward called for a variety of changes — from police reform, to support for Black business owners, to revamped educational policies, to more affordable housing in the West End.The document referenced the “long and challenging history LMPD has had with Louisville’s Black community” and sought to divest from policing and invest in other first responders, such as social workers, and also create a more diverse — both in race and gender — police force, among other suggested changes.It also called for JCPS to use newly raised money to “increase equity initiatives” and aimed to create a “pipeline of Black educators.”The document further called for “expanded mental health support.” A Path Forward, a year later:How has Louisville responded to racial justice petition?What financial investment does it seek?The document seeks to create a $50 million Black Community Fund “to begin the process of addressing systemic racism in our community.” Framers had hoped the city would fund the $50 million, but it has not, which Lyndon Pryor, the Louisville Urban League’s Chief Engagement Officer, called “a constant disappointment.”The fund has raised some money from donations, however, which have gone to community learning hubs, a business incubator and affordable housing efforts.Who is does it target as needing to act?The petition was addressed to Metro Council President David James and Mayor Greg Fischer, who said the document has informed his administration’s thinking of city priorities. The document also listed Gov. Andy Beshear, other government leaders, Jefferson County Public Schools, financial institutions and many other organizations as needing to act, as well as “you,” the individual resident.Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League and one of the framers of the document, said the document has been largely well received.“I think there are a lot of organizations that are looking to the document to determine how they move forward,” she said.Hayes Gardner can be reached at [email protected]; Twitter: @HayesGardner.

Read More

The Courier Journal wins 45+ local journalism awards, including Journalist of the Year

By |2021-07-16T06:07:21-04:00July 16th, 2021|Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Election 2020|

The Courier Journal won numerous awards Thursday night at the annual Society of Professional Journalists Louisville Pro Chapter 2021 awards ceremony, including Journalist of the Year, awarded to Courier Journal reporters Darcy Costello and Tessa Duvall for their coverage of the Breonna Taylor shooting.The judges said “I wish there were a Louisville contest award worthy of the hard work and perseverance of Darcy Costello and Tessa Duvall in uncovering major disclosures in the Breonna Taylor slaying: the no-knock clause of the search warrant, the anguished 911 call by Walker and the fact that no medical treatment was given to Taylor. The results were many: no-knock warrants banned, body camera requirements tightened, officers fired. Costello and Duvall (working together like "Woodstein") are your top journalists. Congratulations, Darcy and Tessa.”Courier Journal Editor Mary Irby-Jones said, “I am grateful that the Courier Journal staff was recognized for its tremendous journalism in a year that challenged our entire staff as we covered a global pandemic and racial reckoning sparked by the death of Breonna Taylor.”The Courier Journal is grateful to our peers for recognizing our hard work during what was certainly a very challenging year for our community and our country. These awards are a testament to the commitment and passion that The Courier Journal reporters, editors, visual, and digitals journalists embody as we tell stories that ultimately make our communities a better place. “And we will continue to push for answers, reform and accountability following this horrible tragedy for Breonna's family and the community,” Irby-Jones said.You may like:Courier Journal named Pulitzer Prize finalist twice for coverage of Breonna Taylor slayingThe Courier Journal won more than 45 awards during the ceremony in categories including Breaking News, Health Reporting, Enterprise and Investigative, Education reporting, Politics and government reporting, Personality/profile writing, Sports Column Writing, Editorial Cartoon, General News Photography and more.Journalist of the YearDarcy Costello and Tessa Duvall for coverage on the slaying of Breonna Taylor:First PlaceBest Breaking News Story: Darcy Costello and Tessa Duvall, “Grand jury indicts 1 of 3 officers in Breonna Taylor shooting. But not for her death”Best Enterprise / Investigative Reporting: Hayes Gardner and Bailey Loosemore, “BEYOND BREONNA: Systemic racism simmer in Louisville for generations. Then Breonna Taylor died”Health Reporting: Sarah Ladd, “’It’s unbelievable’; 39-year-old veteran and father among Kentucky’s youngest COVID-19 deaths”Government / Politics Reporting: Morgan Watkins, “From apartheid to affirmative action: Sen. Mitch McConnell’s complication history on race”Education Reporting: Mandy McLaren, “Mental health evaluations, remote learning and racial disparities across the district’s PTA bank account”You may like:Courier Journal, ABC News named winner of a Peabody Award for Breonna Taylor documentaryCrime / Courts / Criminal Justice: Darcy Costello and Tessa Duvall, “Did Louisville investigators go too easy on police officers in Breonna Taylor shooting?”Editorial Cartoon: Marc Murphy, “Mitch McConnell, Breonna Taylor and health insurance”Best Review / Criticism: Dana McMahan, “Dry January, the Trouble Bar and touring Bourbon Country”Personality / Profile Writing: Kirby Adams, “Paralympians, bourbon experts and a 500-mile walk”Best Feature Writing: Maggie Menderski, “Inches from death, La Grange man spends 95 days in hospital battling COVID-19”Sports Column Writing: Tim Sullivan, “Carlos Dixon, Bob Knight and Scott Satterfield”Sports Feature Writing: Dominique Yates, “From foster care to football star: How this DeSales star shaped himself into a DI recruit”Sports Reporting: Jon Hale, “Why did it take so long for Adolph Rupp to sign a Black player?”General News photography: Michael Clevenger, “Together. Forever.”Sports Action photography: Michael Clevenger, “Derby 146”Sports Feature photography: Michael Clevenger, “Under Water”Best Picture Story: Michael Clevenger, “Say Her Name: Protests in Louisville”Best Special Section: Jennifer Williams, “Kentucky Derby 146”Best Graphic / Illustration: Jennifer Williams, “Suicides and Secrets: The false cure of conversion therapy and how I accepted myself as gay”Best page design news/business: Kyle Slagle, “Women of the Movement”

Read More
Go to Top