LMPD's sexual harassment policies, training getting an overhaul
Louisville Metro Police is getting an overhaul of policies and training in the aftermath of multiple sexual harassment allegations within the department.
Three accusations have come to light in the last two weeks, two of which came in the form of lawsuits, and the first resulted in the suspension of the chief.
On Tuesday, the mayor said new details have come in the last few days that are "deeply troubling and disappointing" and said he promised to have "solid leadership."
Diving deeper into recent sexual harassment claims: First claim | second claim | third claim
He then announced Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel had resigned, and acting Chief Paul Humphrey would serve in the interim.
He also said the behavior within the department would no longer be tolerated and called for sweeping and immediate updates.
"The sexual harassment allegations we've seen and the way they've been handled make it clear that there need to be even more changes at LMPD," Mayor Craig Greenberg said.
During the news conference, Humphrey detailed several of the changes coming and already in the works to prevent and address sexual harassment claims.
"We are dedicated to creating a culture of respect, where every individual feels both valued and safe to do their job," he said.
Here's an overview of the changes he outlined:
Exclusive definition
Sexual harassment now has its own exclusive definition in the LMPD policy. Previously, it was lumped in with other forms of harassment and racial discrimination.
Reporting process
The reporting process is being streamlined, internally and externally. Internally, previously, it was reported through the chain of command, unless there was a conflict.
Now, an officer or a member is no longer prohibited or inhibited by policy to report to anyone. They can report directly to the special investigations, through their chain of command. They can report directly to the chief's office or to LMPD Human Resources.
Externally, they can report to the office of the Inspector General, Ethics Tip line or Metro Human Resources.
More training
There will be better and more thorough training for the entire body of LMPD, including for civilian staff, command staff and officers, Humphrey said.
He said they have already begun training with executive staff and command staff, put on last week by the Jefferson County Attorney's Office, to better understand both the policy reporting requirements, signs and symptoms and behaviors that are acceptable and unacceptable in the workplace.
He said they are developing training on how to report incidents, what to do if someone has witnessed sexual harassment and the appropriate response for those receiving and or handling reports of sexual harassment.
They will be initiating specific training for people who will investigate claims of sexual harassment.
"We recognize that is a very unique type of complaint, and it takes a unique skill set in order to investigate that properly and appropriately, "he said.
Support services
Humphrey said they want to make sure support is in place for victims. Support services include chaplains, the Victim Services Unit, as well as mental health services that operate out of the Summit Wellness Center.
They are also working on external support services so officers and employees can reach out.
Consequences
Humphrey said consequences will be "severe and swift."
"We have to recognize that some mistakes are far more impactful on people than others, and we cannot allow that to negatively impact other people," he said.
Watch the full news conference below: