LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice hosted members of the Louisville community in a public meeting Monday, discussing the path forward for the city and Metro Police (LMPD).
At the Republic Bank Foundation YMCA west of downtown Louisville, the DOJ met face-to-face with citizens to answer questions about its findings report from more than a year ago and update them on the status of the federal consent decree -- an agreement that'll require reforms within LMPD.
During the discussion, Paul Killebrew, deputy chief of special litigation, told a citizen that the consent decree negotiations between the DOJ and city leaders could take anywhere from 6-9 months.
That process -- involving U.S. Attorneys, the Louisville mayor, the police chief and the Jefferson County Attorney -- is being kept confidential from the public, to the dismay of many community leaders calling for transparency.
Some in the meeting Monday evening, like Monica Thomas, pleaded for DOJ officials to reconsider not having a member of the community at the table in those talks.
"I'm hoping that civilian representation is present because again, as long as you all stay in the little box, we'll continue to have the DOJ visit various cities throughout the country," Thomas told Killebrew directly. "I'm concerned about the inhumanity that's being practiced on my people as if we're lab rats, until all of this is worked out."
WHAS11 News saw signs reading 'Justice for Breonna Taylor,' and 'arrest the bad cops,' in a packed community room.
LMPD Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel herself was present, along with a few other police officers.
Killebrew described the DOJ report as a diagnosis, saying we're now in the 'prescription' phase.
"I am here because I really believe we can solve these problems," he told Louisville citizens. "[A consent decree is going to] identify all the changes that are going to have to happen in the police department."
Attendees also expressed continued concern over a lack of proper officer supervision, and what they describe as an environment where reporting bad behavior can come with punishment.
"The culture is not a welcoming culture for an officer to expose another officer, that puts his life in danger -- that puts his family in danger," said Kimberly Moore, who works within the city's Group Violence Intervention (GVI) program.
DOJ officials assured people in attendance that they will maintain federal supervision over the city until both an independent monitor and judge determine LMPD has made the necessary changes -- and has proven they can sustain them.
The DOJ mentioned LMPD has done some good things to improve its culture, including opening a new wellness center in 2023.
The next public meeting will be over Zoom on Tuesday, April 16, at 6:30 p.m., with the next in-person meeting set for 6 p.m. on May 8 at the Louisville Main Library.
Anyone with questions, or requests for a link, can contact Community.Louisville@usdoj.gov or call 844-920-1460.
How did we get here?
On March 8, 2023, DOJ officials released their report finding systemic problems within LMPD -- a pattern and practice of violating people's constitutional rights, disproportionately those of Black citizens.
As a result, city leaders and the DOJ agreed in principle to a consent decree.
A consent decree is a settlement with the federal government, a document listing changes Louisville will be required to spend millions of its own dollars annually to fund. The goal is to make LMPD more equitable.
These negotiations on the terms of that deal are vital, as they dictate how long Louisville will be monitored to ensure they're making progress.
The reforms mandated by the consent decree could be changes in policy or added steps beat officers and supervisors need to take on a day-to-day basis for transparency.
In their findings report, the DOJ recommended 36 remedial measures LMPD should implement following their investigation.
Department of Justice gives Louisville police recommended remedial measures following investigations
An independent monitor will measure progress, and ultimately a judge will decide whether the city is meeting a constitutional standard they can sustain on their own.
The city received the first consent decree draft from the DOJ on Feb. 20, kickstarting in-person negotiations with DOJ officials.
While consent decrees can bring positive reforms, they can be costly and in some ways can eventually stifle the police departments they're meant to help -- if they extend too long.
Last year, WHAS11 traveled to New Orleans to see how its police department has operated under a consent decree for several years and the challenges they've faced.
Here's the warnings, and lessons, they hope Louisville leaders take into negotiations:
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