LEXINGTON, Ky. — No-knock warrants are now banned in Lexington. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council Government voted 10-5 in favor of passing an ordinance that bans the use of no-knock warrants.

Mayor Linda Gorton signed the ban into law Friday morning, confirming the move on Twitter.

"Last night, Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said he could work with a ban," Gorton wrote. "I support our Chief, so I signed the ban this morning."

Immediately following the vote, the crowd in the audience erupted in the room during Thursday night's meeting.

State Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said he’s pleased with the outcome.

“I'm glad it did turnout, turnout the way it did, and so again, I’m pleased. I think the city came to the right decision, and I think you’ll see a lot of benefits and fruits come out of this in terms again moving us toward a more cohesive community,” Thomas said.

Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said he supports the decision of the council even though he favored keeping no-knock warrants as a strategy tool.

“No-knocks is a strategy. It will just be one of the tools that we have to take out of our box, and then we'll have to look and see if another tool will do it,” Weathers said.

Earlier in the evening, Councilman Preston Worley introduced an amended or substitute ordinance.

“That would largely mirror almost verbatim, mirror Senate Bill 4’s language as to the regulation of no-knock warrant,” Worley said.

Numerous people went up to the podium calling for a permanent ban of the no-knock warrants and denouncing the newly amended ordinance.

“We must pass this ordinance as is without amendments. If you really want change, you can say 'Black Lives Matter,' you can go to Tandy Park and have a good time and say you love us but if you’re not willing to do the work, it doesn't mean anything,” said DeBraun Thomas, who lives in District 3.

More than 30 people stepped up to the podium to largely call for a ban on the issue.

“With this eleventh hour bait and switch, those of you who would support it, I beg all of you not to. It is unfair. It is undemocratic and you disrespect my Black neighbors, you disrespect the rest of us, you disrespect yourselves, your office and the democratic process. Don’t do it,” said Reva English, who lives in District 1. 

Ultimately, the amended substitute ordinance was voted down and the council then went back to the original drawing board and banned no-knock warrants in Lexington.

Weathers said the ban on no-knock warrants is effective immediately.