For years, The People’s Consent Decree Coalition, a group of engaged community members, individuals impacted by police activity, and community organizations like the Louisville Urban League, ACLU of Kentucky, and others, have been working and advocating for transformational policies and practices, transparency, and community partnership in and with the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD). For the last six months, the collective has been specifically working to pass an ordinance that would codify and strengthen Louisville’s commitment to community safety. 

As part of this effort, several Councilmembers, including Donna Purvis, were invited and agreed to join the coalition and advance the work last fall. This was an example of how government can–and should–work: constituents working alongside legislators to craft meaningful and responsive policy, collaborating with communities to address concerns, and ultimately securing passage. 

Recently, Councilwoman Purvis announced her intent to file her own version of an ordinance, without input from The People’s Consent Decree Coalition and without the benefit of the months of hard work and expertise of the group. This action could delay or even jeopardize the work and progress that has been made. That is unfortunate.

However, power still lies with the people. There is bipartisan support for our proposal, and despite the actions of one council member, we will continue to seek common ground and push for common-sense policy that better ensures accountability and just treatment from those sworn to protect and serve us.

The Coalition is asking our Metro Council to lead the way in codifying the Mayor’s Community Commitment with additional support. We congratulate Mayor Greenberg and Chief Humphrey on their efforts to strengthen the standards of operation and brand for our public safety professionals, but as it stands, the Community Commitment is simply a project of the current administration – limited by their tenure and authority. 

What the people want and deserve is for this work to be transformative and to live on beyond the terms of those currently in office. To ensure this, we believe the Community Commitment should be codified with the following additions:

• Metro Council oversight for all disputes between the independent monitor and LMPD. Accountability and independent oversight are critical to ensuring that LMPD adopts changed behavior and improved policies and practices. Absent a federal or state court, Metro Council is the best place for such oversight to live.

• Reinstate the original Consent Decree’s specific timeframes for Use of Force reports and investigations. The DOJ consent decree had specific time frames for investigations against officers accused of using excessive force. LMPD agreed to those time frames, but they are modified in the Community Commitment and should be reinstated. 

• Adopt the original Consent Decree’s “Street Enforcement” reforms for “Citations & Arrest” of low-level offenses. The DOJ Consent Decree directed LMPD on how to handle certain named low-level offenses to promote diversion/deflection rather than citations and arrests. This is an important addition as arrests were found to be overused and result in the unnecessary criminalization of our most vulnerable citizens. 

We are confident that these modest but critical additions to the Community Commitment will advance public trust in LMPD, improve policing in Louisville Metro, and provide an avenue for Metro Council to participate in meaningful oversight – a role it does not currently have. 

When we are successful, the city will be better for it. Then, EVERYONE can share in our achievement.

About ACLU of Kentucky 
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky is freedom’s watchdog, working daily in the courts, legislature, and communities to defend individual rights and personal freedoms. For additional information, visit our website at: www.aclu-ky.org.

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, Instagram, or Threads.

About The People’s Consent Decree CoalitionThe People’s Consent Decree (“TPCD”) is a coalition of individuals, groups, and organizations that are deeply invested in the City of Louisville and who believe that Louisville can be a city where ALL citizens can live up to their full potential without the threat of harm from those sworn to protect and serve.

About VOCAL Kentucky
VOCAL-KY (Voices of Community Activists & Leaders – Kentucky) is a Louisville-based non-profit that builds power for low-income people affected by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness, advocating for systemic change through community organizing, direct action, and policy advocacy. VOCAL-KY is membership led and focuses on issues like housing rights, ending the opioid crisis, police accountability, criminal justice reform and working to create healthier and more just communities across Kentucky’s 120 counties. 

Other organizations represented in the Coalition include: Dove Delegates, Black Leadership Action Coalition of Kentucky (BLACK), Defending the Early Years, Families United Corporation, Feminist Majority Foundation, Forward Justice Action Network, Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Louisville Showing Up For Racial Justice (LSURJ), The 490 Project, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC), and The Justice Center At All People’s.