LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department launched a new initiative on Wednesday to hold bi-weekly news conferences. During the conference, Interim Police Chief Paul Humphrey addressed the city's recent issues surrounding street takeovers.
“It’s a problem that popped up many years ago, a problem that’s plaguing many major cities around the country," Humphrey said.
He said the expansion of Louisville's drag racing ordinance has helped LMPD take enforcement action not just on the active participants but on anyone who blocks the road or participates passively.
He said a large deterrent is now being able to confiscate people's cars after a street takeover event.
"If you have a car that you've put $120,000-$150,000 into, a reckless driving ticket is like water off a duck's back to you. You really don't care about that and that's what we've found," Humphrey said. "But what you do care about is that your car, that you care about so much, is going to go sit on the impound lot for the next six months and there's nothing you can do about it."
The interim chief said the department has seized 65 cars in the past two years.
"As soon as we start picking peoples cars off, they quit. The message goes out very, very quickly that this isn't the place to play," Humphrey said.
He said the number of street takeover events has gone down since the department implemented a higher level of enforcement.
"We are not going to tolerate that type of behavior. You are not going to put officers from LMPD in danger, you're not going to put the public in danger, plain and simple," Humphrey said.
On Monday, an LMPD spokesperson said police issued one citation, seized two cars, arrested four people and confiscated four weapons over Labor Day weekend in connection to street takeovers on 2nd Street and River Road.
One person was also shot during this event.
Police also confirmed another street takeover at 23rd and Market Streets during the weekend. Currently, LMPD is searching for a suspect in connection to this incident.
When LMPD arrived to the scene, several people jumped onto a patrol car and caused thousands of dollars in damage, Humphrey said.
He said if you know who this is or if you have any information on other people who participated in the street takeover, you can call 574-LMPD.
"Jump on a police car again and it's a problem that's not going to work out well for you," Humphrey said.
He said the department hasn't seen a street takeover as large as the gatherings on Labor Day weekend in some time.
He said these event should not become normal and they are using social media and images from the event to identify suspects.
Humphrey said some people who participate in these events are from out of town, as street racing and street takeovers are not a problem unique to Louisville.
“They do this for clicks, they do it for likes, well guess what, we can use all of that. So if you want to put that out, you want to try and get attention, we’ll give you the attention you want and I’ll make sure you get his mugshot when he gets locked up," Humphrey said.
He said they are in contact with other agencies in the region and they do see some cars that are a problem in Louisville also show up in other jurisdictions.