LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The city of Louisville is sharing a new effort to combat gun violence in the city. This new initiative, called the Prohibited Firearms Possessors Initiative, or PFP, brings together law enforcement, prosecutors and federal partners to identify and work together to address repeat gun offenders.

What You Need To Know

  • Prohibited Firearms Possessors Initiative is multi-agency effort addressing gun violence 

  • PFP focuses on confronting the specific individuals who are disproportionately driving violence in the Louisville community

  • The initiative brings together law enforcement, presecutors and federal partners to work together in addressing repeat gun offenders
  • This multi-agency effort will meet monthly as they continue this new initiative

“It’s simply unacceptable. How many people in Louisville are mourning the loss of a child, a parent, a friend to gun violence? I know firsthand the devastation that gun violence can cause far too much impact on our city,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville. 

According to data from the Louisville Metro Police Department, last year homicides were down by 16% compared to 2021. During that same two-year period, there was also a 38% decrease in non-fatal shootings. Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel says despite some progress and reduction in the numbers, there is still more to be done.

“CID (Criminal Interdiction Division) alone saw about 300 firearms last year. Many of those guns were stolen or in possession of convicted felons. Last year, we reduced nonfatal shootings by 8%, and we continue to show a reduction in our homicide numbers,” said Gwinn-Villaroel.

Louisville Metro Police Department Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Crowell says this PFP focuses on confronting the specific individuals who are disproportionately driving violence in the Louisville community

“Part of that effort is to continuously update and improve our processes in crime prevention and enforcement, but also in our post-arrest efforts to ensure that we are honing our most violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Crowell.

It’s another tool to help in the approach toward removing violent offenders off Louisville streets.

“We are committed, all of us, at the local, state and federal level, to work together in partnership, to do everything that we can to make Louisville a safer city and end this gun violence epidemic that we are dealing with,” said Greenberg. 

Since PFP formed, LMPD officially formed a unit, and the commonwealth’s attorney identified prosecutors to lead investigations. The first meeting between partners took place earlier this month.

So far, four cases have been identified. This multi-agency effort will meet monthly as they continue this new initiative. 

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