Louisville Metro Police Department Agrees to Settlement with Department of Justice Following Two-Year Investigation into Practices

The city of Louisville, Kentucky and the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) have agreed to a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) following a two-year investigation into the department’s practices. The investigation was launched after the killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020.

The DOJ report, released Wednesday, found that the LMPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people, uses excessive force, uses invalid warrants to conduct searches, unlawfully stops people and “violates the rights of people engaged in protected free speech critical of policing.”

The settlement agreement commits the city and LMPD to work with the DOJ, the community, police officers and other stakeholders to implement a series of reforms. These reforms include changes to the department’s use of force policies, training, recruitment, and mental health and wellness support for officers.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the LMPD failed to provide its officers with proper training and resources to do their jobs effectively. He said the investigation uncovered “divisive training, substandard facilities and equipment, inadequate support for officer mental health and wellness.”

The settlement agreement is the first step in a long process of reform for the LMPD. The city and LMPD have agreed to work with the DOJ and other stakeholders to ensure that the reforms are implemented and monitored. The agreement also requires the LMPD to provide regular reports to the DOJ on their progress.