LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department is facing multiple sexual harassment allegations and lawsuits, and Mayor Craig Greenberg acknowledged Thursday big changes need to be made.
On Thursday, allegations of sexual harassment were made against the department by a current officer for the third time in the last week. Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel is on paid administrative leave for her handling of at least one incident.
Greenberg spoke at a news conference and said sexual harassment will not be tolerated in the department or Metro government.
"I'm extremely concerned about the multiple sexual harassment allegations within LMPD," he said. "Acting Chief [Paul] Humphrey and I take this very seriously and have been working all week to make meaningful changes. The allegations made public this week in two lawsuits are incredibly upsetting and very difficult to read."
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Last week, an attorney for Maj. Shannon Lauder released a recording in which she accused Maj. Brian Kuriger of sexual harassment. On Thursday, Lauder and her husband, LMPD Lt. Jeff Lauder, were accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed by Sgt. Lauren Carby.
Officer Christine Silk filed a sexual harassment lawsuit Tuesday, accusing officers Justin LeMon and Dale Cottongim.
According to Carby's lawsuit, LMPD spent $40 million to settle claims between 2017 and 2022.
"We are finalizing significant changes to LMPD's procedures for sexual harassment allegations, investigations, discipline, training and victim support," Greenberg said. "Clearly the reforms we've been working on were not enough in this area and we will do more to ensure LMPD and all of Metro government is free of sexual harassment. Everything is on the table. We will be announcing these changes very soon and decisive action will be taken."
The Department of Justice has been investigating LMPD for almost two years. Among its findings were the department failed to adequately handle sexual harassment allegations.
Greenberg said DOJ officials were in town last week when he made the announcement regarding the chief.
"These allegations took place in the past, but the way they are handled is equally important as the allegations themselves," Greenberg said. "All of that must be looked at, addressed, fixed, improved and transformed."
Greenberg said Acting Chief Humphrey held a mandatory sexual harassment training for leadership this week, and more actions will be rolled out in the near future.
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