LMPD Declares State of Emergency Ahead Breonna Taylor Decision

Posted on by Victoria Gaines

Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement on Monday, in light of anticipated demonstrations.

What We Know:

  • On September 21st, Interim Louisville Chief of Police Robert J. Schroeder shared a memo that declared a state of emergency and effectively canceled all vacation and leave requests for officers in LMPD.
  • Attorney General Daniel Cameron is expected to share more about his office’s investigation into Breonna Taylor’s death today. He said earlier in the month that, “an investigation, if done properly, cannot follow a certain timeline”.
  • AG Cameron’s announcement follows the news that the city of Louisville will pay out a $12 million settlement to Taylor’s family. The city also agreed to a number of reforms as part of the agreement.
  • Certain federal buildings will be closed ahead of the announcement. The Gene Snyder United States courthouse will be closed through September 25th according to a memo from presiding Chief Judge Greg N. Stivers. The courthouse’s windows were boarded up on Monday.
  • The U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman requested that Homeland Security provide added protection of the federal buildings in downtown Louisville. This was a result of protests taking place nearby for over 110 days. This request has protestors on the ground worried about their safety, particularly after the way Homeland Security responded to Portland demonstrations earlier this year.
  • The city is also attempting to limit access to certain areas downtown by installing temporary no-parking signs and barricades on surface streets in the area. LMPD clarified that access would be limited after the announcement.

  • Though barricades went up on Monday, demonstrators were still marching downtown in spite of them on Monday evening. One protestor told the Louisville Courier Journal that the actions of the city reflect who they are trying to protect, “They spend more time protecting the structures than they do the people… We’re being exposed to what’s important to the government, and it’s not the lives of Black people,” shared Stachelle Bussey, a minister and protester.

It has been more than 6 months since Breonna Taylor was killed by police in her own home. One officer has since been fired, but no charges have been filed against the officers that took her life.

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