Louisville’s Mayor Greenberg now contests parts of the DOJ’s report on police conduct, marking a significant shift in his stance.
Louisville: Mayor Craig Greenberg has changed his tune. He now says he doesn’t agree with all the findings from the DOJ’s 2023 report about the police department. This report claimed that the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) has been violating the Constitution and federal laws.
Greenberg referred to some of the findings as “allegations.” Just a day before, his deputy general counsel told a federal judge that the city disputed the DOJ’s claims about LMPD’s conduct.
Previously, Greenberg had accepted the report’s findings, which came after a lengthy investigation triggered by the tragic police killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020. But now, he’s saying there are parts of the report they contest.
At a press conference, he mentioned the need to focus on the future and improvements rather than getting bogged down in disputes over the report. This is a big shift from his earlier statements, especially since a federal judge is currently deciding whether to approve a consent decree that the city signed with the DOJ.
In a past interview, Greenberg had fully accepted the DOJ’s findings and emphasized the need to acknowledge past issues within the police department. He had urged the community to accept the report and not dismiss it as mere politics.
The DOJ’s report highlighted several serious issues, including excessive force and discrimination against Black individuals. Last month, the city and the DOJ agreed on a consent decree aimed at reforming the police department.
Now, Judge Benjamin Beaton is considering whether to approve this decree. During a recent court session, Greenberg’s deputy general counsel stated that while they acknowledged some misconduct, it didn’t amount to a consistent pattern.
In a court filing, the city denied that any alleged misconduct was frequent or part of a broader pattern. Greenberg had previously called the consent decree a “historic” step toward ensuring the protection of residents’ rights and improving public safety.
