LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the Department of Justice (DOJ) announcing earlier this week that it is investigating the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), a group of Louisville advocates are encouraging people to file any complaints they may have with the department.

“We are going to be doing this at least once a week,” said Louisville advocate Marie Bingle, who is also founder of Better Dayz Youth Coalition. 

Bingle said every Friday, at least through May, she and other advocates will be outside LMPD’s PSU office in west Louisville’s Parkland neighborhood encouraging people to file any complaints they have with LMPD. This action was spurred due to the DOJ’s new pattern-or-practice investigation into Louisville Metro and LMPD.

“We are being proactive. We are following protocols for it. So we come in peace,” Bingle said.

Bingle added that the advocates gathering isn’t a protest but a way to support and help people with the process of filing complaints. The hope is that the complaints may result in identifying problem officers within LMPD.

Bingle’s son, who gave Spectrum News 1 his rapper name, Bblasian, said he filed a complaint Friday from an incident with LMPD in February.

“The reason I’m here though is because we didn’t know how to go about it, and we didn’t know what to do, but, luckily, we have resources, and so this is the right way to enter these situations, and that’s what we’re doing,” Bblasian said.

The LMPD’s normal PSU office on Virginia Ave. in West Louisville was closed Friday due to Derby detail for the weekend, so Bblasian and others went to downtown Louisville to file their complaints. Bblasian said his interview took about 30 minutes. 

“They asked me 13 questions, and, once we get past that, it’s a statement of what happened with the situation that took place that day. Right now, they are going through the phase of typing it out, and to where I can read over it and make sure it is all my words and everything is correct,” Bblasian told Spectrum News right after his interview.

According to LMPD’s website, the department has three ways to file a formal complaint: 

• In person — Go to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) Office at 2743 Virginia Avenue, Louisville, KY  40211
• By form — Pick up a form at any of the eight (8) divisions
• Electronically

LMPD’s website also says filing a complaint affidavit “does not ensure the opening of a formal investigation, but all affidavits are reviewed by a representative from the professional standards unit (PSU) to determine if the complaint merits further inquiry.”

“Obviously attorneys always want, our mantra always is ‘Make a record, make a record, make a record, get it down,” said civil rights attorney David Mour who is currently representing the protester punched multiple times in the face by an LMPD officer during an arrest on April 18, 2021.

Bingle wants results for a better community and said supporting others to file their complaints is one small step towards that.

“We are here to support. Don’t be intimidated; you’re not alone,” Bingle said.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to LMPD for an interview but did not hear back in time for this story.