WATCH LIVE: Louisville authorities respond to incidents listed in DOJ report

Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal
·1 min read
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Louisville officials plan to make a special announcement regarding incidents listed in the Department of Justice report on Louisville Metro Police Department — which found several federal law violations.

Mayor Craig Greenberg and LMPD Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel are expected to make the "significant" announcement at Metro Hall around 12 p.m. Friday.

The DOJ announced March 8 that the LMPD and both Louisville and Jefferson County Metro Government "engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law." It also stated it entered an agreement with them — helping to resolve the department's findings through a court-enforceable consent decree.

More: Department of Justice seeks feedback on investigation into city, LMPD at community meetings

More: 'We were treated as enemies': DOJ report shows police violated protesters' rights

According to the DOJ report, the Justice Department found that LMPD:

  • Uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and the unreasonable use of police dogs and tasers;

  • Conducts searches based on invalid warrants;

  • Unlawfully executes search warrants without knocking and announcing;

  • Unlawfully stops, searches, detains, and arrests people during street enforcement activities, including traffic and pedestrian stops;

  • Unlawfully discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities;

  • Violates the rights of people engaged in protected free speech critical of policing; and

  • Along with Louisville Metro, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to them in crisis.

At the beginning of May, the justice department sought feedback from the community and planned several forums around the city.

In response, local activists and community leaders pushed Louisville officials to take action with several demands, including transparency, funding changes along with the release of names identified in the report.

More: Activists call for transparency and action from Louisville officials in consent decree process

Ray Padilla the digital producer for the Courier-Journal. He can be reached at rapadilla@gannett.com or on Twitter at @Ray_Padilla_.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Civil Rights violations by LMPD: Louisville responds to DOJ report