LMPD announces new procedure for releasing body cam footage from police shootings
Louisville Metro Police Department is changing how it releases information about shootings involving officers after a man was shot and killed near Valley Station last month.
Officers shot and killed 32-year-old Yoel Napoles-Ravelo after responding to a home on Eagle Wood Drive on July 25 about an "unknown act of trouble."
In light of this, LMPD announced new procedures when it comes to shootings involving police.
Here's how LMPD will proceed in these cases:
- The chief or executive member will provide a media briefing following the incidents
- Within 24 to 72 hours, LMPD will identify the officers involved, including their current assignment, commendations, and disciplinary history.
- Body cam footage will still be released within 10 business days of the incidents
- LMPD will provide the body cam footage with a detailed description of the incident.
- There will not always be an accompanying press conference for these incidents
- LMPD's Public Information Officers will handle additional questions surrounding the incidents
"Examples of when it may be necessary to call a press conference may include when there is a public safety concern, when we need the public's assistance with information. When there is a mass shooting or a mass casualty incident, or when this situation otherwise merits the need to communicate critical information to the public," said Assistant Chief Emily McKinley.
More background on the shooting
When officers arrived, they found Napoles-Ravelo inside the home with family members, saying he was agitated.
During a news conference on Thursday, LMPD said that Napoles-Ravelo was actually the one who called 911, saying he needed to go to the hospital.
LMPD says at the time of the call, the incident did not qualify for crisis call diversion.
In body cam footage of the incident released on Thursday, officers spent more than 15 minutes speaking with Napoles-Ravelo, attempting to de-escalate the situation. There are multiple times throughout the video where police ask him to put a knife down.
Napoles-Ravelo is then seen moving toward the officers, who then fired their guns. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
VIDEO: | (Warning, viewer discretion advised)
LMPD had previously said that officers attempted to use less-lethal options before shots were fired, but in the body cam footage, those less-lethal options appear to be discharged at the same time as actual shots were being fired by police.
The officers who fired the shots were identified as Kendrick Eaves, Matthews Forbes, and Garrett Schmeltz.
All three officers are on paid leave, which is standard LMPD policy for these cases.