June 13th 2024.
Louisville's top police official, Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, has been placed on suspension following accusations of mishandling sexual harassment claims within her department. The unexpected announcement was made by Mayor Craig Greenberg on June 12, less than a year after Gwinn-Villaroel assumed the position. Although Mayor Greenberg clarified that the chief herself was not implicated in the allegations, he emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated within Louisville's government, including its police force. "Rules and policies are in place for a reason, and they must be followed," Mayor Greenberg stated firmly during a press conference.
The allegations against Gwinn-Villaroel surfaced after she was accused of promoting one of her majors to a high-ranking position despite a recent sexual harassment claim against him. According to reports, Gwinn-Villaroel made the decision to promote Major Brian Kuriger during a meeting in which another major, Shannon Lauder, had just accused him of misconduct. A recording of the meeting, obtained by Wave 3, captured the chief asking Lauder if she had any issues working with specific members of the command staff. Lauder responded by stating that she could not work with Major Kuriger due to his past harassment and aggression towards her.
In the recording, there was a 21-second silence before Gwinn-Villaroel proceeded to announce Kuriger's promotion. She then assured Lauder that her concerns were heard, to which Lauder allegedly replied, "I know that right now is not a good time to bring it up...but I didn't want you to say that...later, that I didn't bring it up." This exchange was followed by the chief apologizing for how the issue had come to light.
The Louisville Police Department has been under scrutiny since the high-profile 2020 shooting of Breonna Taylor by officers. Gwinn-Villaroel is the third full-time chief to lead the department since Taylor's death, having joined from the Atlanta Police Department in 2021, where she was hired by former Chief Erika Shields as a deputy chief. Mayor Greenberg had previously commended Gwinn-Villaroel for her handling of a mass shooting at a local bank in 2023, where officers responded quickly and were able to neutralize the gunman within minutes of the 911 call. However, Mayor Greenberg has now expressed concerns about the handling of sexual harassment claims within the department, particularly in light of the recent criticism from the U.S. Justice Department.
Following Taylor's death, the Justice Department conducted a thorough investigation and discovered a pattern of discrimination and violation of constitutional rights among Louisville officers. The report also highlighted deficiencies in the department's response to allegations of sexual misconduct or domestic violence involving its officers.
In response to the recording of the meeting, Lauder's lawyer, Jared Smith, released a statement expressing deep concern over the chief's tone towards her command staff, which he described as aggressive and threatening. "The chief's response to Major Lauder's allegation paints a troubling picture of a department lacking strong leadership and failing to prioritize the well-being of its officers," Smith stated.
During the ongoing investigation, Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey has been appointed as the acting chief, and a spokesperson for LMPD has clarified that Kuriger's promotion is not yet official.
In other news, Breonna Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, is set to receive a $2 million settlement in his lawsuit against the city. Walker had filed the lawsuit following Taylor's death, in which he was also injured. The settlement was announced in March 2021, with Mayor Greenberg stating that it was a step towards healing and moving forward as a community.
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