LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The office of Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, released former Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel’s resignation letter, shedding new light on her departure from the department.

While her letter, which is addressed to Greenberg, does not mention explicitly the sexual harassment lawsuits that preceded her suspension and departure from the LMPD, the embattled former chief pointed to larger cultural problems within the department as the greatest challenges during her tenure. Gwinn-Villaroel noted a “divisiveness” between LMPD, Louisville citizens, the media and the mayor’s office when she began her tenure. She said that divisiveness led to toxicity and conflict within the department between what she said were “those who sought diligently to uphold proper ideals” of policing and “those who were indebted to traditions, legacies and operational standards” which she said ran counter to the department’s ideals. 

“From day one, my mission was to challenge the status quo perceptions and assuage this conflict by engaging with the troops and the community in a manner in which the environment where trust and legitimacy would be fostered and flourish, thereby improving the culture by which the department operates,” she said.

Gwinn-Villaroel described “an invasive presence of professional and ethical apathy,” as the greatest challenge she faced in her tenure with LMPD. She also said there were “longstanding cultural deficiencies” that “permeated the agency…emanating from certain members of leadership and filtering down to the rank-and-file positions” which she said created an “apathetic professional malaise.” Because of this, she said the perception that she was “too hard on my commanders” was correct because of the “need to alter these cultural deficiencies [.]”

The former chief expressed pride in the work she had accomplished in her time and shared her belief that LMPD and Louisville deserve a great police department. “I resign my post as the head of this great department,” she continued. “I am not resigned to the belief that the citizen does not deserve the best LMPD has to offer, I do not resign myself to believe that LMPD is incapable of being a world-class department.”

The letter also said she will leave police headquarters and work remotely for four months. Her last day with LMPD will be Oct. 26, 2024. Gwinn-Villaroel also agreed to consult on disciplinary cases or litigation she was involved in for an hourly rate of $125, plus travel expenses.

Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended as police chief on June 12 after a series of sexual harassment lawsuits were filed against the department. She resigned as chief on June 25. Greenberg named Paul Humphrey as the interim police chief and said there would not be an immediate search for a permanent police chief.