LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police Department’s new traffic stop policy takes effect today. LMPD’S Police Chief, Steve Conrad, announced the changes in early May. For the last six weeks, Officer Justin Witt has provided the two-hour training to 30-50 officers at a time to get the department up to speed.

“So through-out the two hours, we talked about the policy specifically and then hypothetical situations officers could be involved in,” Officer Witt told Spectrum News 1.

The agency’s standard operating procedures were revised to clarify the guidelines for conducting a traffic stop. Officer Witt said the policies themselves are actually not new. The change is that officers are now asked to directly articulate what they are doing during a traffic stop.

“Everything we do is built around community policing and building trust. If the public feels we are conducting ourselves in an impartial manner or in a biased manner, that’s a problem and we have to address it,” Officer Witt said.

Officer Witt said Tae-Ahn Lea’s 2018 viral controversial traffic stop video, which the department received criticism and questions over, was not used during the training because it is part of an on-going investigation. Witt added that LMPD typically does not use the department’s own video during trainings to prevent bias.

LMPD’s Public Information Officer, Matthew Sanders, said approximately 95 percent of the department has completed the training, from new recruits to the police chief. The remaining officers will complete it once they return from being out for various reasons.

Officer Witt said accountability is important. He added, “With any policies or with any complaint, a person can always call our professional standards unit and make a complaint, which will be investigated to see whether or not an officer followed this new policy and new procedure in a way that was appropriate.”

LMPD’s Professional Standards Unit’s phone number is 502-574-7144 or visit the website for more info.