LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mayor Craig Greenberg’s, D-Louisville, plan of action to make Louisville a safer city includes directing $448 million to decreasing violence and protecting more lives.

What You Need To Know

  • The Louisville Metro Police Department appeared before the Louisville Metro Council to discuss their budget priorities under a plan proposed by Mayor Craig Greenberg

  • Under Greenberg’s proposed budget, the police department’s budget is getting an 8.5% increase

  • LMPD Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel says the department’s biggest need is the support for technology like license plate readers and more cameras

  • The budget still has to be passed by the full Louisville Metro Council. The council is scheduled to vote on June 20

On Wednesday night, May 22, the Louisville Metro Police Department went in front of the Louisville Metro Council to discuss their priorities for the proposed LMPD budget. 

LMPD Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel says the department’s biggest need is the support for technology, like license plate readers and more cameras.

“Technology is where we are, and technology is going to help us continue to build a better police department,” said Gwinn-Villaroel.

With LMPD being one of the largest agencies in Kentucky, Gwinn-Villaroel says that a helicopter is crucially needed to combat crime and meet the demands of the department.

“In order to help, continue to fight crime by their visibility in the sky, but we cannot be without a helicopter,” said Gwinn-Villaroel.

Under Greenberg’s proposed budget, the police department’s budget is getting an 8.5% increase. However, Gwinn-Villaroel says the department has taken a decrease in other areas. 

“We’re looking at some of the how can we streamline another 2.3% from that budget. But again, the mayor has cut across the board. And I understand that because it’s so much that we’re doing within our city. And so LMPD is just what can we get? How can we manage that? But understanding, the need that every entity within the city needs support and funding,” said Gwinn-Villaroel.recruiting,

Even though the department is experiencing a reduction in recruiting, the budget reflects a lower recruitment budget. Gwinn-Villaroel is optimistic that with better contracts more officers will come through the door.

“The contracts are more attractive, and those officers that really want to come back home to LMPD and is a great fit for our department, we welcome them. But the pay is better, the incentives are better. And so that’s why I’m optimistic about that,” she said.

The overall budget also includes more money to improve the city’s system for receiving civilian complaints against police officers. Louisville’s Inspector General’s office would receive around $24,000 to upgrade its system it uses for police misconduct complaints.

The budget still has to be passed by the full Louisville Metro Council. The council is scheduled to vote on June 20, and the budget will go into effect on July 1.

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