LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One week after taking over as interim police chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Paul Humphrey sat down with Spectrum News 1's Lachlan McLean and Amber Smith. 

Humphrey replaces former Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, who resigned June 25 due to concerns over how she handled a workplace sexual harassment allegation involving LMPD officers. Gwinn-Villaroel's resignation letter, sent to Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, pointed to a challenging environment of "divisiveness," "toxicity" and "apathy" within the department.

They discussed a range of topics, including his leadership style and background, the state of the department, the importance of transparency and more. 

"Change, including cultural change, is something that should never stop," Humphrey said. "And so we're constantly on a mission toward improvement. That's going to continue, regardless of who's in this seat. I pledge to make sure that we give you 100% effort to constantly look for the next way to be a little bit better." 

The 18-year LMPD veteran was named acting police chief June 12 after Gwinn-Villaroel’s suspension. According to the mayor’s office, Humphrey created LMPD’s new accountability and improvement bureau and serves as the lead officer working with DOJ to bring reform to the department. 

Humphrey is the sixth person to lead LMPD since 2020. The department has handled several high-profile events over the last four years, such as the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor and a restaurant shooting where a National Guard bullet killed David McAtee.