LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton proposed her 2022 fiscal budget, public safety was one of the top points of emphasis. 

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Linda Gorton and Police Chief Lawrence Weathers discuss plans to improve safety

  • The city is seeing positive results because of new license plate cameras

  • Gorton wants to secure more money to help with recruitment and retention

Gorton, working with Police Chief Lawrence Weathers, announced Tuesday several steps the city is taking to address issues and concerns in the community.

In a statement, Gorton said, “Public safety is my top priority,” Gorton said. “I want to be sure we are doing all we can to improve safety.”

Gorton said Chief Weathers added extra officers and Sheriff’s deputies downtown, specifically in the Tandy Park area. Weathers is reconfiguring where the officers are stationed and looking over their assignments. Gorton says there have been several arrests after incidents downtown.

More lights are being added to the park and Gorton said some nearby businesses may change their hours. Gorton and Weathers created a Downtown Safety Work Group, which addresses concerns in bars and restaurants, security and Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) training. Gorton added, the city is considering reducing the hours of Tandy Park.

Earlier this year, Lexington began installing Flock license plate readers. The city received 25 cameras and they are all installed. Lexington is taking part in a year-long pilot project with the cameras. Gorton said they have seen great success because of the cameras.

“With just 25 cameras, since March we have recovered over $1.1 million in stolen vehicles, and charged 116 people with crimes.” The license plate readers have also led to the recovery of 11 missing persons, and the seizure of 28 guns,” she said.

According to Gorton, homicide numbers are up for 2022, but she said gun-related homicides involving 13 to 29-year-olds have dropped 55%. Gorton attributes part of the drop to the efforts of the One Lexington violence prevention program.

Like other cities, including Louisville, Lexington is challenged with recruiting and keeping police officers. As part of the fiscal year 2023 budget, the city council approved $5 million in recruitment and retention pay. Gorton says the administration plans to ask the council to approve retention bonuses for sworn employees in the corrections and police departments and for employees in E-911 (Lexington enhanced 911). They will also request recruitment bonuses be established to help with hiring. 

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