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New website allows for community access to LMPD documents on officers involved in DOJ found incidents
LOUISVILLE, KY (RIOT) – Standing at the same podium United States Attorney General Merrick Garland used to address the community and release the March 2023 Department of Justice report on the Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville Metro Government, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and LMPD Interim Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel on Friday publicly released information they believe was referenced in the DOJ report. The information is being shared on a publicly accessible website open to review.
“When the DOJ released their findings, the Chief and I both stood right here and committed ourselves to being open and transparent as we work to strengthen LMPD. Today I believe we are living up to that commitment,” said Mayor Greenberg. “To the very best of our ability, we have identified the incidents mentioned in the DOJ’s report and are sharing that information with the community. Also, where necessary, we will be moving forward with detailed reviews into these incidents and treating them with the seriousness they deserve.”
On Friday a website, created by LMPD and found at www.louisville-police.org under the heading “Department of Justice Community Resources” was made live providing information related to 62 incidents referenced by the DOJ in their report. The site contains both contextual and factual information on the incidents such as dates, officers involved, relevant arrest citations and information on formal investigations and administrative reviews. Video of the incidents is not yet included due to the strict redaction process that must be followed to protect the privacy of those involved. However, Mayor Greenberg has asked the work to be expedited and completed no more than 60 days from Friday.
The DOJ’s investigation, which covered years 2016 to 2021, was initiated to determine whether a “pattern or practice” of violating citizens’ constitutional rights existed in the LMPD and did not reach conclusions about any individual officer’s conduct. However, the report did highlight several specific incidents where policing may have fallen short of professional and community standards. Because the DOJ report did not provide explicit identifying information on the 62 referenced incidents, we requested further information to help identify all incidents. Based on the additional information provided, LMPD now believes it has correctly identified all incidents and has been able to retrieve documents describing them in more detail.
The incidents fall into three categories that will determine what investigative, corrective or disciplinary actions may be taken in the future. The three categories are:
Fully adjudicated incidents in which a Professional Standards Unit investigation occurred and a decision on whether or how much discipline to impose has been rendered. Roughly half, 29 of the 62 incidents, fall under this category. The Jefferson County Attorney has advised that, as a matter of law, these cases have been closed and cannot be revisited.
Incidents that were reviewed but not formally investigated. In these incidents, which account for 21 of the 62, the incidents received an administrative review, also known as a “Blue Team” review, but were not investigated by the PSU. These incidents can, and will, be reviewed by Chief Gwinn-Villaroel.
Incidents that received no review, which include 12 of the 62. The Chief will fully review and evaluate each of these and decide if further investigation or discipline is called for.
“The Mayor and I are committed to a police department where trust and transparency are cornerstone values, and today we are fulfilling a commitment we made to live up to those values,” said Interim Chief Gwinn-Villaroel. “As the DOJ noted in their report, the vast majority of the men and women of LMPD serve the community with integrity and professionalism. The public, and those officers, deserve a fair and honest review of these incidents, and that is what I will do.”
TO ACCESS THE NEW WEBSITE VISIT: https://louisville-police.org/895/Information-in-Reference-to-DOJ-Findings
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