LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro police officers are expected to intervene any time they see another officer use excessive force, Acting Police Chief Robert Schroeder announced Thursday.
Schroeder said the new policy change says any officer should verbally or physically prevent another officer, regardless of rank, from using any unlawful force. Officers should immediately report any incidents to their supervisors.
"While intervention should always be the response of police officers, this policy simply outlines what our departmental expectations are, and how we expect our officers to behave," Schroeder said.
The change comes as protests continue nationwide following the death of George Floyd, who was killed when an officer knelt on his neck for around eight minutes.
"Recently, all of us in law enforcement were shocked when we saw a video of George Floyd being killed in Minneapolis, as other police officers stood by and did nothing," Schroeder said. "That's not who we are as police officers."
The policy also says officers are prohibited from retaliating against any officer that intervened or reported excessive use of force. Anyone who does "may be subject to discipline."
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer called the policy change a "common sense move" and said more policy changes will come.
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