DOJ Report: Louisville Police Use Excessive Force, Unreasonable use of Dogs and Tasers, Discriminate Against Black People

WASHINGTON

A Department of Justice investigation, which was launched in May 2020, found a pattern or practice of conduct by LMPD and Louisville Metro that violates the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution, as well as federal law.

These violations include a pattern or practice of unreasonable searches and seizures by LMPD officers, as well as excessive force, including deadly force.

The investigation also found that LMPD’s policies and practices, including its use of force policies, create conditions that lead to violations of the Constitution and federal law.

The investigation also found that LMPD and Louisville Metro have failed to provide adequate training and supervision to ensure meaningful civilian oversight and to respond to allegations of misconduct.

Moreover, LMPD has failed to ensure that its officers are adequately disciplined when they engage in misconduct. The agreement requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to develop and implement reforms to remedy the identified deficiencies and ensure they comply with the Constitution and federal law.

To Read the Entire Report, Click here: DOJ

The agreement also requires the establishment of an independent monitor to ensure the reforms are fully implemented.

The agreement is subject to the approval of the court. The Department noted the Louisville Metro and LMPD for their cooperation.

Specifically, the Justice Department finds 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

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

In particular, LMPD’s policies, training, and supervision related to domestic violence and sexual assault were inadequate.

They failed to provide officers with the necessary guidance, support, and direction to respond to such incidents properly.

Additionally, LMPD did not provide officers with adequate guidance on how to investigate these types of cases properly.

LMPD additionally failed to document and track domestic violence and sexual assault cases correctly, and its investigations of such cases were often inadequate.

Finally, LMPD failed to follow its policies and procedures to ensure that officers accused of sexual misconduct or domestic violence were held accountable.

The Department recommended that LMPD improve its policies, training, supervision, and accountability related to domestic violence and sexual assault cases and ensure that officers accused of misconduct related to these cases are held accountable.

“The Justice Department has concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that Louisville Metro and LMPD engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of the residents of Louisville — including by using excessive force, unlawfully discriminating against Black people, conducting searches based on invalid warrants, and violating the rights of those engaged in protected speech critical of policing,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“People in Louisville deserve policing that is constitutional, fair and non-discriminatory,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our investigation found that the police department and city government failed to adequately protect and serve the people of Louisville, breached the public’s trust, and discriminated against Black people through unjustified stops, searches, and arrests.”

Adding, “the police used excessive force, subjecting people to unlawful strikes, tasings, and canine bites. The police sought search warrants without justification and carried out no-knock warrants unlawfully, evading the constitution, defying federal law, and putting ordinary citizens in harm’s way. Today marks a new day and a new chapter for the people of Louisville.”

LMPD and Louisville Metro cooperated fully with the department’s investigation, federal officials stated.

The Department of Justice opened this investigation on April 26, 2021.

Career attorneys and staff conducted the investigation in the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

The investigation included numerous onsite tours; interviews of LMPD officers, supervisors, and command staff; ride-alongs; review of thousands of documents; and review of thousands of hours of body-worn camera footage.

Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates, service providers, and other stakeholders in the Louisville Metro area.

These findings are also separate from the department’s ongoing investigation into the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additional information can be found at: www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-launches-civil-rights-investigation-kentucky-s-mental-health-service-0.

The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Louisville community for their views on remedies to address the department’s findings.

Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at Community.Louisville@usdoj.gov or by phone at 1-844-920-1460.

This is one of eight investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division during the Biden Administration.

The department has ongoing investigations into the Minneapolis Police Department; the Phoenix Police Department; the Mount Vernon (NY) Police Department; the Louisiana State Police; the New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; the Worcester (MA) Police Department; and the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.

Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky is available at www.justice.gov/usao-wdky.

Information specific to the Civil Rights Division’s police reform work can be found here: www.justice.gov/crt/file/922421/download.