LMPD chief suspended over handling of workplace sexual misconduct allegations
The mayor has put LMPD Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel on administrative leave.
Mayor Craig Greenberg made the announcement on Wednesday. He said it's over how she handled an allegation of sexual harassment within the department.
"He has sexually harassed me and attacked me, and I cannot work with him," said LMPD Maj. Shannon Lauder in an audio recording released by her attorney.
The recording was made during a recent meeting with Gwinn-Villaroel and members of her senior staff.
Listen to a portion of it below:
That allegation made by Lauder concerns a male colleague who also holds the rank of major.
Gwinn-Villaroel: Major Lauder, I've heard your concerns, and I understand you cannot, and so we have to visit on his the status moving forward.
Lauder: Yes ma'am. I know now's not a good time to bring it up, but I didn't want you to say that, you know, later that I didn't bring it up. So sorry I had to come out in this way.
Chief: (unintelligible) I have heard your concerns.
Lauder: Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
Gwinn-Villaroel will be on paid leave pending the outcome of an independent investigation, which will be led by Attorney David Beyer.
맥스카지노I hold myself and all the leads of the agencies that report to me to the highest of standards, and that certainly includes LMPD," Greenberg said.
Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey will serve as acting chief in her absence.
"We will not let this be a distraction. We will not waver in our fight to combat violent crime in this community. Keeping people safe and protecting constitutional rights will always be our primary focus," Humphrey said.
The suspension comes amid a period of reform for the department.
An investigative report into repeated civil rights violations committed by LMPD was issued in March 2023.
The department is still working on a consent decree with the federal government, which will require Louisville to allocate millions of taxpayer dollars annually to fund changes that need to be made.
Those reforms will aim to improve policing practices, enhance accountability and protect the civil rights of residents.
The chief was hired on permanently a few months after the report came out, and at the time, Greenberg said it was, in part, because she is committed to change within the department.
Prior to that, she had been leading under then-LMPD Chief Erika Shields, who resigned after less than two years.