LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A judge has ruled that Chief of Public Safety Amy Hess and Interim Police Chief Rob Schroeder must testify in front of Metro Council as part of its investigation into the city's handling of recent protests.


What You Need To Know

  • Judge rules that Hess, Schroeder must testify in Metro Council investigation

  • Hess, Schroeder previously said they could not testify due to separate lawsuit

  • Fischer does not plan to appeal order

The two were previously set to testify in August; however, their attorneys said they couldn't because of a separate lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The lawsuit names Mayor Greg Fischer, Schroeder, and the Louisville Metro Police Department. 

After being given an ultimatum to either testify or leave, Hess and Schroeder left the Metro chambers.  

Yesterday, in her ruling, Judge Audra Eckerle said that Metro Government, which sued Metro Council to block Hess and Schroeder from testifying publicly, "has simply not met its burden to show that this Court should award extraordinary relief. It has not established any of the required three elements. It will not be irreparably harmed; the equities are not in its favor; and it has failed to present a substantial question."

 

Fischer's Director of Communications Jean Porter said that Hess is willing to waive the open meeting exemption and testify. Schroeder's next steps are unclear since he is specifically named in the ACLU and NAACP's lawsuit.