KENTUCKY —  Mayor Greenberg, D-Louisville, joined this week's "In Focus Kentucky" program to discuss a wide range of topics and issues affecting the commonwealth's largest city.

During this segment, Greenberg shared details about how his administration is working to improve public safety. Some of those efforts include the hiring of Chief Paul Humphrey to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and transform the culture to focus on accountability and reducing crime.

So far, the city reports the number of homicides in Louisville has decreased each year since its peak in 2021, going from 171 to 138 in 2024 and the overall number of shootings in Louisville has decreased 41% since 2021.

"Safety, reducing violent crime, making sure that everyone feels safe and is safe, I view as the most important thing that I do and that everyone at Louisville Metro government does," Greenberg said. "We've done that, working by with a historic pay raise for LMPD officers. Paul Humphrey is our new chief of police, who's doing an excellent job, really focused on accountability and improving public safety." 

The Justice Department announced in Dec. 2024 that it entered into a court enforceable agreement with the Louisville Metro Government to resolve the department’s findings that Louisville Metro and the Louisville Metro Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution and federal law. The decree sets out specific policies, trainings and programs that Louisville Metro and LMPD will implement to protect the rights of Louisville residents and promote public safety.

The decree requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to collect and analyze data to improve as an agency and hold officers and Louisville Metro employees accountable. The decree also requires Louisville Metro and LMPD to report on their progress publicly and involve the community throughout the implementation process.

Greenberg said the transformation is already taking place under his and Humphrey's leadership, adding Louisville is on track to exit the decree in five years or fewer.

"It's about ensuring that the entire community trusts our police department and that they have the support resources and tools that they need to continue to reduce violent crime in our city," Greenberg said. "That's what we've been working on the past two years. That's what's happening now, and that's what we're going to keep doing moving into the future ... we're also doing more than just policing our way to safety." 

Greenberg also shared updates on how the city is taking action to combat the rise in copper wire thefts across Jefferson County. Police believe the copper thieves are working in groups, and they're asking the public to report anything they know or see. Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet is offering a $5,000 reward, and AT&T is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

You can watch the full 'In Focus Kentucky' segment in the player above.