LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Mayor-elect Craig Greenberg announced on Monday that Louisville Police Chief Erika Shields has offered her resignation. 

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor-elect Craig Greenberg announced that police chief Erika Shields would remain with LMPD through February to help with the transition

  • Greenberg also said the search for a new interim police chief would begin immediately

  • Shields said that she was proud to have served the department as they implemented over 150 reforms, negotiated salary raises and reduced crime in the city

  • Shields came on in the aftermath of the death of Breonna Taylor and navigated intense public scrutiny of the department as well as DOJ investigations into LMPD

Greenberg said he has accepted Shields' resignation, effective upon his first day in office, Jan. 2, 2023.

"I want to thank the Chief for her service to our city and I appreciate her willingness to remain with LMPD through February 28th to assist in our transition," Greenberg said in a statement. Greenberg added the search for a replacement LMPD interim chief would begin immediately.

Shields was hired as police chief in the aftermath of the death of Breonna Taylor to help reform the department. In her own statement, Shields said, “I am honored to have led the dedicated and talented officers of the Louisville Metro Police Department during a time of unprecedented change in policing here and across the country... I am proud to have served this Department as it worked to implement more than 150 reform efforts, a salary increase to attract and retain the best and brightest, and, most importantly, a reduction in violent crime.”

In his campaign, Greenberg pledged to make public safety his top priority and emphasized the need for the best trained law enforcement in the country. He promised to hire more officers as well.

“To the men and women of LMPD: Thank your for your service to our city. You have my full support and I look forward to working with you,” Greenberg declared. 

Shields began her tenure in Jan. 2021 at a time of great upheaval and public scrutiny of LMPD. Following the death of Breonna Taylor and the National Guard shooting of David McAtee in June, Fisher fired former chief Steve Conrad. Conrad was succeeded by interim chiefs Robert Schroeder and Yvette Gentry.

Before coming to Louisville, Shields served as police chief in Atlanta. Her tenure there ended abruptly in 2020 after 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was killed by police outside of a Wendy's. 

After laying out an ambitious plan for reforms, Shields navigating some turbulent terrain as the department re-negotiated officer contracts under intense public pressure and the announcement of two U.S. Department of Justice investigations into LMPD and its botched raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment. In August, the DOJ brought charges against four LMPD officers for violating Taylor's civil rights. Shields immediately moved to terminate Kyle Meany and Kelly Goodlett, who were still working for the department at the time. Goodlett chose to resign instead. 

After winning his election, Greenberg echoed his campaign promise to make public safety a top priority by reducing crime in the city through policing and improving investments in community programs. However, Greenberg did not indicate whether he would keep Shields on as part of that plan. 

Current Louisville mayor, Greg Fischer, issued this statement on Shields' departure: "I am deeply appreciative of Chief Erika Shields’ service to our community. At an incredibly challenging time, she came to Louisville and led an LMPD focused on reform and violent crime reduction, and in just the past year we see the results of that work – homicides down by nearly 14% and shootings are down 30%. Thank you to Chief Shields, her team, and her family – we are better off for their sacrifice and commitment."

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