LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Greg Fischer (D), along with metro council members and local faith leaders, announced new public safety steps following the death of Breonna Taylor, the EMT killed earlier this month.


What You Need To Know


  • New public safety measures going into effect

  • Task force being established to look at Civilian Review Board

  • All sworn officers must wear body cams

  • No-knock warrants require approval of chief

“It’s critical that we at Metro Government and Louisville Metro Police do all we can to learn from this tragedy, and apply the painful lessons of the events of March 13 into our collective work to preserve public safety and strengthen public trust in our city, which is always our No. 1 priority,” said Fischer.

The Mayor’s Office and Metro Council will convene a task force of community and police leaders, who will be named later this week, to explore a process for a Civilian Review Board of police disciplinary matters. 

“I’m glad we are able to create this task force with the administration to create a Civilian Review Board. The Metro Council started working on this legislation last year," said Metro Council President David James (D, Dist. 6). "In addition to asking the task force to work on the creation of a civilian review board, we will be asking them to review the possible creation of an Office of Inspector General. I look forward to bringing LMPD to a place that most major police departments in our country have had for a while building credibility.”

The Mayor’s Office and Metro Council will propose local legislation to establish this process and, if necessary, will work with the general assembly and governor on changes to state statutes.

There will also be two LMPD policy changes, including the no-knock warrant at the center of Taylor’s death. No-knock warrants will now require a sign-off from the chief of police or his designee before it reaches a judge. 

The other policy change requires that all sworn officers, including narcotics officers, wear body cameras while serving warrants and other situations where they will identify themselves as police officers. 

“All three of these steps must be taken to ensure transparency, to be responsive to the concerns of the public and, most importantly, to build the vital public trust needed for a safer city,” said Fischer.

This week, the investigation into Taylor’s death by LMPD’s public Integrity Unit will go to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the US Attorney’s Office and the FBI.