LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Police reform is set to come before Louisville's elected leaders once more.
On Monday, the Louisville Metro Council Public Safety Committee unanimously passed an ordinance which will, if approved by the full council, form the Civilian Review and Accountability Board.
What You Need To Know
- Metro Council's Public Safety Committee proposed the Civilian Review and Accountability Board on Monday
- Ordinance will be presented to the full Metro Council on Thur., Nov. 19
- Board would contain 11 members nominated by local, state, federal entities
- Three law enforcement organizations also have a say in nominations
The board's role, as spelled out in the ordinance, would be as follows:
- Increasing citizen involvement in the investigation and review of allegations of police misconduct within the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD)
- Providing oversight to the Office of Inspector General as created in LMCO Section 36.78.
The 11-member board would consist of members chosen by the mayor, the council, public nominations, and nominations from prominent organizations including the ACLU, NAACP, Louisville Urban League, Greater Louisville Inc., the University of Louisville Department of Public Health, and The Interdenominational Ministerial Coalition.
An amendment was included to provide three law enforcement organizations — the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council — with nominations as well.
Though the mayor would make only four selections from the list of nine entities, considering law enforcement members for a civilian board did not sit well with those who addressed the committee at Monday's meeting.
"I think the optics and the public perception of allowing three law enforcement agencies to nominate members to what is intended to be an independent civilian review board will be negative," said Scott Dickens, an attorney and former chair of Louisville Police Merit Board.
"There is a fundamental reason why we think citizens should be involved," said Joe Reagan from Impetus For a Better Louisville. "It’s not because they’re experts in policing, but precisely because they are not. Their insight into the daily lives of average citizens in this community is the perspective that the law enforcement agencies need to effectively protect and serve the community."
Another successful amendment would require board members undergo 40 hours of shadowing police, compared to the original 16 proposed for the ordinance.
The law passed unanimously out of the committee and is scheduled to be read before the full council on Thur., Nov. 19.