Today, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced he would reappoint Edward Harness as Inspector General. We applaud this decision and the many community members and partner organizations who petitioned for this outcome. It is a critical and necessary step in ensuring police accountability and reform in Louisville. Under Ed Harness’s leadership, the office of Inspector General has provided crucial independent oversight of LMPD, and he has served with integrity and fairness during some of the most challenging years in our city’s history. Maintaining that consistency and quality in leadership is as important as ever.

The city must build on what has been stated and deepen support and strengthen the work to ensure we get the most nonviolent, people-centered, constitutionally obedient police service possible. For those who have been harmed or had their rights violated by police, it is essential to have an independent office that will hear their complaint, investigate objectively, and publicly seek accountability for any police misconduct.

We hope the Mayor will support the office by compelling more cooperation from LMPD officers, quicker response times to information requests, and more swift, transparent accountability when misconduct is identified. Additionally, the Inspector General should play a meaningful role in the work of the new independent monitor as they investigate reforms and change measures being implemented in response to the Consent Decree.

As always, and like so many others in this community, the Louisville Urban League is ready to offer support, input, and guidance wherever possible. We simply must be invited to the table. We hope this renewal is a sign of greater openness and engagement by the city with those most impacted.

About the Louisville Urban League
The Louisville Urban League assists African Americans and those at the margins in attaining social and economic equality and stability through direct services and advocacy. For more information, go to lul.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter  (@louisvilleUL), or Instagram (@LouUrbanLeague).