The Thinning Blue Line: The Growing Exodus of Police Officers

The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) is down by 300 officers. With an authorized force of 1,328, it now has just 1,038. At the end of July this year, another 95 officers---sergeants, lieutenants, and administrative staff have the option to hang it up.  Why are so many experienced  police officers leaving?

The Louisville Metro Police Department has faced decades of mistrust from officers and the community going back to the city/county merger 2002 when dozens of county officers decided to leave rather than to be part of the newly created metro police department (which was, in fact, merely an expanded city police department). In many ways, the seeds of public distrust were planted in 1975/76 when officers were required to maintain order during the deeply opposed court ordered forced school busing.

However, it was the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee which ignited the exodus. Breonna Taylor was shot in May 2020 and killed in a botched police drug raid while Mr. McAtte, the owner of a popular BBQ restaurant in Louisville's predominately black West End, was killed in June by the Kentucky National Guard amid protests following Taylor's death (then police chief Robert White was fired shortly thereafter over the shootings, allegations of a cover-up, and concerns relating to unapproved overtime).        

To offset the shortages of officers, the city's Democrat mayor, Greg Fischer, and the Democrat dominated Metro Council authorized $218 million for the 2023 LMPD budget; $25 million more than it currently receives. This represents nearly 1/3 of the city's general fund. Nevertheless, shortages continue amid a complete distrust of top management, including the newly appointed Police Chief Erika Shields (she was the police chief, albeit an unpopular one, from Atlanta Georgia).

As an aside, the distrust and distain also extends to the current mayor, Greg Fischer as well. Fischer has been mayor since 2010 and has continued to earn poor marks in the city's low and middle class areas such as Okolona, Fern Creek, Valley Station, and Pleasure Ridge Park. His popularity among minorities as well as the police department and Metro Council (which has its own popularity problems) remain low.

LMPD has been looking for minority candidates to fill its depleted roll. It has dropped height, education, and test score requirements to make that happen, but with the shortages, almost anyone without a criminal record and in decent health will do (and even that's kinda sketchy). A new requirement say you can't "have used, possessed or sold a narcotic in the last six years"!  Like other police departments, the LMPD is trying to steal replacements wherever it can by offering lateral transfers higher salaries and improved benefit packages (fully funded pensions remain a ongoing problem)

June of 2022 had its largest new police class in three years---31 applicants, but that's far short of its previous class sizes of 48. Recently that number has been around 18 to 19 seats filled, making the 31 recruits appear increasingly more like an aberration rather than a correction.

The department remains predominately white and male (current recruitment is 71% white and male).  Females make up just under 14% of the force while men are over 86%. Whites in general (men and women) are almost 81% of the force. Blacks of both genders comprise 13.87% while 3.32% are Hispanic. Asians comprise 1.46% and Native Americans are just 0.20%.  The largest age "bubble" is between 26 and 45 years old.  

As stated above,  the money situation has improved.  The average salary after two years is now $71k plus benefits, which is a significant improvement, but the long hours, lousy shifts, and high stress environment of police life remain. LMPD Union President Ryan Nichols calls the retention situation  "dire" and added that at the present rate, the matter could become catastrophic in short order.

Minneapolis was the epicenter of the police protests. It's where George Floyd was killed in May 2020 by Officer Derek Chauvin, one of four officers called to investigate a possible counterfeit $20 dollar bill by a store clerk.  Floyd was subsequently detained (Chauvin knelt on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds) and died shortly afterwards (an autopsy found drugs in his system which were likely strong contributing factors to his death). Since the incident which captured the world's attention. Minneapolis has lost well over 300 of its officers.

Police retirements have jumped by 45% and resignations have increased 18%. The western Minneapolis community of Morris will disband its police force after 140 years of service by the end of the year. The reason? Not enough officers. The 5,200 strong community will use the Stevens County Police Department for its law enforcement needs.

With the decline in officers, amid demands to "defund the police" and "community monitoring", crime has skyrocketed across Minneapolis. Last year there was a record number of murders---62.  As of this March, there were 55. Carjackings for 2021 totaled 2,423. In the first third of 2022 there had already been over 3,000! 4,969 assaults were reported in 2021. By the end of the first quarter, there were already 5,573 with no relief in sight.

Back in Louisville, the situation isn't any better.  Louisville is ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country (in one report where "100" was the safest and "0" was basically a Dodge City, Louisville was ranked "5"). Another national site rated Louisville an "F" when it came to crime (along with its school system). Louisville's murder rate is more than double the national average and exceeds much larger cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta.

Violent assaults in Metro Louisville are also double the national average as are carjackings. Rapes, thankfully, are well below the national average while armed robberies, burglaries and thefts are all about 25% higher than average.

In Asheville North Carolina, more than 1/3 of the police force has quit, resigned, or retired. In New York City, one of the largest police departments in the nation, 2,600 officers called it quits in 2020. In Seattle, resignations and retirements more than tripled, 219 compared to 77. In Philadelphia, which has been racked by an increase in crime, has seen over 79 officers take early retirement thus far this year.

Chicago, a city notorious  for its crime and corruption, has been hemorrhaging police officers and civilian staff. As of April 2022, 300 officers had left. In March there were 11,669 men and women in blue. In 2021 there were 12,739, down 560 from the year before, which was further down 749 from 2019!  For 30 years, the city has never had less than 12,000 officers on duty. Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown called the exodus "generational", meaning it wasn't just the rookies leaving or the "old timers". It's across the board with newbies and experienced officers turning in their badges, along with staffers.

The reason for the mass departure of officers stems from several factors, but most notably from Mayor Lori Lightfoot's edict that everyone had to be vaccinated against Covid-19 whether they wanted to be or not. In addition, the department has seen its budget repeatedly sliced amid calls to "defund" the police (in 2020 the budget was cut by $59 million), along with an increase of assaults, mandatory overtime and a reduction in compensation.

San Francisco is facing a massive exit of police officers. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said that he's worry that nearly a quarter of the departments staff will walk out as their early retirement dates near.  Thus far, the city is already down by 600 officers with more expected to leave, and it gets worse.

According to Chief Scott, for every 50 officers leaving, only about eight to ten recruits are taking their place (on average, about 25 apply with roughly half being cut for one reason or another before graduating). Like most other cities, San Francisco is trying to lure officers from elsewhere with offers of more money and benefits thanks to an increased budget.

However, as Chief Scott admits, he's competing with nearly every other police department in the nation. He's also faced with the fact that San Francisco is one of the most expensive place in the country to live, especially if you're coming from out of state. As an aside, in a recent poll, 65% of residents in the Bay Area said that fear of crime was what kept them from coming to downtown San Francisco

According to the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington DC based policy institute, a study of 200 departments nationwide showed retirements (regular and early) were up 45% while resignations rose by 18% over the period from April 2020 to April 2021. In departments with more than 500 officers, the retirement rate was over 30% while new recruitments were under 5%. Those are unsustainable numbers.

Cities like Louisville and Minneapolis weren't the only ones with out of control crime in the face of fewer officers. According to the Police Executive Research Forum, most communities were experiencing a sudden increase in violent crimes like murder, shootings, and carjackings, as well as thefts after the mandatory Covid quarantines were lifted. Large cities have had a 24% increase in killings thus far in 2022, which followed a 30% increase in 2021. By the way, don't think for a moment that criminals aren't paying attention to and targeting these areas where officer shortages are occurring. 

Yes, it's true that the police are increasingly militarized, but they face criminals and gangs with the firepower of professional militias.  According to the FBI, in 2021 129 officers died. Of those, 73 were killed in the line of duty (23 of those were unprovoked attacks while 8 were ambushed). 56 died in accidents (17 of those were pursuits or  were responding to a crime in progress). This total represents 27 more deaths in the line of duty than in 2021.

In today's two tier judicial system, too often the testimony of someone is devalued or their guilt is determined based on the perceived income level, origin, or color of their skin while an officer, politician, or judge walks despite evidence of their guilt. Meanwhile, the wealthy and powerful don't even come close to facing the same "justice" ordinary citizens deal with and even fewer face the true consequences of their actions. 

Unfortunately, there are no easy solutions. The deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, David McAtee, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, or Tamir Rice and others are more than regrettable. They are a national tragedy, as is every lost life due to a crime. Many were, for the most part, avoidable.  However, not all the blame belongs on the shoulders of the police. 

First and foremost is restoring discipline and respect for authority at home and in the schools. There's a direct correlation between doing what a teacher tells you and what a police officer tells you. However, the repercussions can be much worse.  When a cop tells you to do something, stop what you're doing, don't mouth off, and do what you're told. You keep your hands where they can be clearly seen. Don't make sudden moves, and you sure as heck don't run! I can guarantee that you're not faster than a 9mm and you're sure as hell not bulletproof. This isn't about race, gender, religion, or anything else. It's about keeping everyone safe.

 In most cases you'll get a warning or ticket and sent on your way. Get cocky, you may get a free ride downtown. If you do something stupid, you may get a trip to the hospital or morgue. If there's a problem with the stop, go see a lawyer as soon as you can and let them handle it. Otherwise chalk it up to experience. It's better to be a live plaintiff than a dead victim.

Yes, police officers and first responders need more diverse hires along with diversity training. In fact, I think everyone needs diversity training. Perhaps it should be a mandatory class in high school alongside ethics and civics. Everyone is deserving of respect and even some empathy, but not due to some misplaced sense of entitlement or self importance. But because it's the right thing to do as a human being. However, respect and empathy are a two way street. If you want it, you have to give it.

Police officers are resigning or retiring enmasse because to significant degree the public has turned against them, thanks in large part to the media. They have lost the public's respect.  Calls to defund the police force has resulted in a decrease in their ability to do their job, which is to keep the public safe and maintain order. They also must deal every day with people under the worse of circumstances. That's where the empathy comes in.

 

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LMPD ramps up recruitment in face of shortage

'We're at a dire level': Nearly 100 LMPD officers eligible to retire as staffing shortages continue

LMPD Demographics August 2022

 

Why Police Have Been Quitting in Droves in the Last Year

 

Minneapolis Police Department Down 300 Officers from spring2020

Minneapolis DataSource: Crime Dashboard

AreaVibes: Louisville, KY Crime

Chicago Police Staffing hits new low...

SFPD chief worries about loss of hundreds of officers amidstaffing shortages

It's Time For Louisville to Settle Up With Fischer

***Due to Blogger's new format change, there are random changes font size and colors***

$12 million dollars. That's what the City of Louisville, under embattled mayor Greg Fischer has agreed to pay the family of Breonna Taylor who was shot and killed back in March during a police raid of her apartment, along with a promise of police reform.  What does this settlement actually represent?

To many it was a just and reasonable settlement as a result of a botched raid resulting in Ms. Taylor's death (she was hit eight times according to police reports) with one officer suffering a gunshot wound to his upper thigh. The other two officers were uninjured. Others see it as smart business. An attempt to avoid a possible jury trial and a much higher court award, especially given our current political climate.

Still others see it as nothing short of a bribe; an attempt to buy off the Taylor family while covering up a series of screw ups from the mayor's office through the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) all the way down to the officers on the scene. So, which is it? A reasonable settlement aimed at putting a tragic episode and civil unrest behind us or another cover up by the mayor's office.

What is known to a reasonable degree was that Taylor, along with her former boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, and her current boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were allegedly part of a drug ring. According to the police, a jailhouse informant told them that drugs were being sent to Taylor's address, which was backed up by a postal inspector. Taylor's apartment was supposedly being used to store drugs and money with Taylor allegedly acting as Glover's bookkeeper while in jail on earlier drug charges.

Acting on this information, Detective Joshua Jaynes obtained  a "no knock" warrant from Circuit Court Judge Mary Shaw and coordinated the two prong raid. One was Glover's residence, and the other, about ten miles away, was Taylor's apartment. Unbeknownst to the officers raiding Taylor's residence, Glover, the main suspect, had been arrested earlier at his home was being held in jail.  Nevertheless, the raid went forward.

While the raid on Glover's residence was without incidence, things didn't go well at the second address. At around  12:40 on the night of March 13th, undercover officers Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove, under orders not to use their body cameras, allegedly announced themselves and busted through Taylor's door. Walker and Taylor were asleep at the time.

The commotion prompted Walker, who stated that he thought someone was breaking in, to fire a single "warning shot" which hit officer Mattingly in his upper thigh, near his femoral artery. Nevertheless, all three officers returned fire, blindly shooting into the dark apartment.

At some point during the fray, Taylor exited the bedroom into the hallway and was hit approximately eight times.  Walker claims that went immediately to Taylor who, by that point was either dead or rapidly dying. Walker surrendered without further incident.

Investigation afterwards showed that the police fired somewhere between 20 and 25 bullets, some of which going into the adjacent apartment. Following standard police procedure, all three officers were put on paid administrative leave pending further investigation (Hankison was later fired). However, Taylor's death in conjunction with George Floyd's in Minneapolis, prompted civil disobedience on a scale not seen in Louisville since the 1960's Civil Rights Era or anti-forced busing protests of the 1970's.

The protests quickly devolved into riots, looting, and a dramatic increase in violence, including arson, carjackings, and random shootings while the police were allegedly told  informally to "stand down" (something the mayor has denied although others have insisted is true). What was supposed to be "justice" for Taylor became a racial and political issue.

Meanwhile, the LMPD has dragged their feet at every turn as things unraveled. They've provided incomplete and inaccurate reports, delayed the ballistics report (which, six months later, was only recently turned over to the FBI). The postal inspector now says that he never told Jaynes that drugs were being delivered to Taylor's apartment and residents claim the police never announced themselves.

As if this wasn't bad enough, LMPD's Chief of Police, Steve Conrad, was forced to resign amid numerous scandals ranging from misuse of the budget to rampant sexual abuse in the LMPD's Explorer Program for young boys and girls (throughout, Mayor Fischer continued to deflect criticism of Conrad, and "encourage" the media to drop their inquiry).

Finally, as the investigation of Taylor's death continued at a snail's pace, rumors began to swirl about so-called "back room" deals with developers to acquire property owned by the city at deeply discounted prices, including property allegedly owned by Kenneth Walker (Beonna Taylor's boyfriend at the time of her death) and knowledge about a possible affair by the mayor. However, without details, those stories may be just that...stories, but nothing would come as a surprise from this administration.

So, while the FBI is conducting its own ballistics investigation based on material provided by the city six months after the fact, and while the state's Attorney General, David Cameron, is still conducting his investigation, Mayor Fischer announced a settlement with Ms. Taylor's family for $12 million dollars.

Metro Council was unaware of the settlement prior to its announcement. The media, which is deeply embedded in the local power structure, was caught off guard. Groups behind the protests/riots were equally unaware. They were supposedly here to get  "justice" for Breonna Taylor now find out that it was apparently about the money. Of course, I'm sure they'll have their hand out too.

Louisville, on the other hand, has been long struggling financially. The mayor has tried repeatedly to raise taxes, citing shortfalls in the budget (in part due to millions spent on his pet projects like bike lanes). The Board of Education is pushing for a 7% hike in property taxes, claiming they need yet more money while outside reports indicate that the school system is top heavy in administrative personnel and paid well above national levels while the teachers remain underpaid, yet use their own money to buy needed supplies. Besides, the schools aren't open thanks to COVID-19.

Public utilities are another source of revenue. Their rate increases seem constant yet they're not effectively monitored. Still, like the school board, what they want they get. Ever since the City/County merger in 2003, the residents of Jefferson County have lost their advocates. Previously it was the a board of Aldermen and a mayor, who were fairly evenly matched in terms of political clout. The same for the county, which had a Judge Executive and three district commissioners plus separate administrations with its own police force and police chief, and separate tax revenue stream.

The city's power structure was primarily Democrat while the county's was Republican. The city was often in a fiscal hole while the county managed its money pretty well. The merger, which was drawn up by the local power elite, changed all that for the worse.

 What the community ended up with was a powerful mayor akin to the old city hall bosses of a century past, and a weak Metro Council, which is too large to be effective. The city is in constant search for money. The actions of the past mayor and now his handpicked successor has more than driven the point home. Fischer's behind the scenes settlement agreement, whether rightly or wrongly offered, serves as  a great example that his power.

There is no question that the LMPD is in need of serious and immediate reform from the Chief's office all the way down to the officer on the street. I served on the old Jefferson County Police Department's Citizen's Advisory Board from 2001 to 2005. I was selected to serve on the Service Awards Committee which reviewed reports involving officers whose actions exceeded the call of duty.

I had also served on the Kentuckiana Interfaith Community Forum on Police & Community Relations, which was a panel of about a dozen community leaders which examined police and community relations. In each of these groups we would review incidents in detail. We would hear from the officers involved, their partner, commanding officer and citizens as needed for details.  

 

The vast majority of these individuals were outstanding police officers.  I rarely ever came across anyone who had a racial, gender, ethnic, or religious bias. If they did, they hide it well. The officers recommended for some sort of commendation typically deserved it and more.

 

What has happened to the local police department post merger I don't know, but it doesn't have the character or confidence it once had. It had no confidence in its previous Chief of Police, Robert White, and it most certainly didn't have faith in Steve Conrad. As for the mayor, Greg Fischer, the police and others in government have little to no confidence in his leadership.

 

The community as a whole has lost its confidence in his ability to lead the city as well. In fact, the only reason he won reelection was that the local Republican East End clique has failed to build the necessary community wide base it needs to win the seat (the last Republican mayor elected was in 1965). I'm not saying that the City of Louisville needs a Republican mayor. I am saying, however, that the city needs new ideas and a new approach. What it has been doing is clearly not working.

Mayor Fischer, I believe, overstepped his boundaries with this covert settlement. He has once more shown that he backs those who are of use to him politically or personally, and that apparently doesn't include the ordinary police officer. If he was confident in the steps taken officers on the night of March 13th, he would be demanding an immediate trial. Instead, he has once more tucked tail. 

 

If Mayor Fischer was confident of his decision, he would have included the Metro Council instead of leaving them hanging on the line. If Fischer was confident in his leadership as mayor he would have put a quick end to the rioting, looting, car hijackings, gang violence, and shootings which is plaguing the city while permitting peaceful and orderly protests to continue.
 

Instead, his inaction has led to the vandalism of whole sections of downtown which, in addition to the largest settlement paid by any city in recent history, will cost taxpayers millions more to clean up. Was this an attempt to buy off the Taylor family in order to keep the matter out of the courts because he knew his failure of leadership, and by extension, the police, would prove to be too much? Maybe.

Regardless, his failure has and will result in more businesses closing and/or moving out of downtown, thus putting Louisville on track to becoming another "doughnut" city like Detroit or West Memphis (as if the virus hasn't done enough damage). Louisville continues to show that it's no long in the same league as its (former) peer cities like Nashville, St Louis, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati.  

The shooting of Breonna Taylor, irrespective of whether she was into drugs, a fired EMT, or whatever, was uncalled for. Shooting randomly into a dark room is not good policing. A ordinary "flash bang" could have eliminated the threat long enough for officers to secure the area without endangering anyone.

 

This matter may yet find its way into the courts. We are still awaiting the FBI's and Attorney General David Cameron's reports. There is also still the matter of Jamarcus Glover and Kenneth Walker to consider yet. Meanwhile, it's time to clean house, starting with Greg Fischer.

 

 

Another Senseless Shooting: Kenosha Wisconsin and Patience Wanes in Louisville

It's not a particularly large community; just under 100,000 residents. It's about two and half hours and 156 miles up I-43 from its better known and slightly larger neighbor, Green Bay. Like its more famous neighbor, Kenosha Wisconsin sets on the edge of Lake Michigan.

However, Kenosha has recently burst onto the national scene in a way no city wants to---a shooting. The video, taken by a bystander across the street, has been seen all over America and perhaps through much of the world by now, followed by the inevitable protests and riots, and sadly, more shootings.

Kenosha Wisconsin has typically been, up until now, a relatively quiet Midwestern community, much like a similar city, Louisville Kentucky which springs to life the first Saturday in May for one of the most famous horse racing events in the world, the Kentucky Derby, but not this year.

This year the Derby was postponed due to the COVID virus until September. Due to the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in March and the continued threats of more protests, riots, lootings, vandalism, carjackings, and physical violence, the Derby may again be postponed if not outright cancelled.

Many businesses have been forced to closed (some for good) while downtown has come to look like a city rocked by a natural disaster amid the boarded up buildings and empty streets. Even the police headquarters and court house are boarded up in what appears to be a subliminal symbol of surrender; a reflection of the city's failure of leadership.
The death of Breonna Taylor triggered widespread protests for justice has devolved into riots, looting, arson, and assaults, not to mention the destruction of historic statues and monuments as the protests were subtly hijacked by those more interested in anarchy than justice.

In the case of George Floyd, who died while being taken into custody by the Minneapolis Police on May 25, only added fuel to the fire amid claims of "systematic racism" not just in police departments nationwide, but embedded within society as a whole.

We don't know much about what happened in Kenosha, but it couldn't have happened at a worse time given the country's current racial tensions, as well as frustration over the continuing COVID-19 restrictions and vitriol political hatred which has infected the nation worse than the virus itself.

The footage appears to show an attempted murder by a police officer. But as we all know, appearances are often deceiving. We're seeing only one angle of the event making it all that more important to look at the facts than to react emotionally.

We know that police were called to the 2800 block of 40th Street at about 5:11 PM over what was reported to be a "domestic incident", which could be anything from an argument to a knock down drag out brawl or something involving a weapon. Those involved could be drunk or on drugs while the incident itself could range from something petty to something long standing. The police officers simply don't know until they arrive on the scene.

The video shows two officers following Jacob Blake, age 29, away from a house to his car with guns already drawn. Obviously "something" has already occurred to put the officers on alert. Guns don't typically get pulled unless there is a potential danger.

Blake is shown opening the driver's side door; his three children (ages 8, 5, and 3) are in the backseat. At this point things quickly goes awry. An officer tugs on Blake's shirt and almost simultaneously fires seven shots in quick succession into Blake's back at near point blank range. Why?

Nothing in the video suggests any aggressive acts by Blake (did he say something?). He doesn't appear to be going for a weapon. Some individuals on social media have said that there appears to be something (a possible gun maybe?) on the ground just by the car door. However, it's hard to say if that's a weapon or not. The video just doesn't give us enough detail to say one way or the other.

Despite multiple shots at near point blank range, Blake wasn't killed. He was airlifted to the Froedtert Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee where he underwent hours of surgery to remove the bullets and (hopefully) repair any damage to internal organs. His post-op condition is still listed as critical.

Meanwhile, in accordance with standard police procedure, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending completion of an internal investigation. Nevertheless, word spread quickly after the incident. It didn't take long before crowds turned into protests, which by nightfall, had turned into riots. A car lot and a church with a "BLM" sign were among the property burned to the ground.

Since the shooting, the protests and riots have spread to neighboring communities including Appleton (birthplace of Harry Weiss aka "Harry Houdini"), Oshkosh, Fon du Lac, Manitowoc, and to Milwaukee. Government officials, reacting rather than being proactive given the current racial tensions nationwide, posture for the media (and voters) by promising a comprehensive review of not just the incident, but whether any "systematic racism" exists with any government departments.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D), promised to call a special session of the Legislature to review police accountability and transparency and would call out the National Guard if the situation got out of hand.

Kentucky's Governor Andy Beshear (D) has refused to deploy his state's National Guard despite the destruction and appearance of heavily armed groups such as the Black Panthers inspired group, "Not Fucking Around Coalition" or NFAC and Antifa, not to mention BLM and the Until Freedom group (as an aside, BLM has shown a tendency towards violence as well).

In expected hyperbolic partisanship, Wisconsin's Democratic Party chairman, Ben Wilker, has called the shooting "a symptom of the deadly disease of white supremacy and racism that must be confronted and defeated". Wilker is a Harvard educated white guy from a upper middle class family. Both of his parents are academics. His father teaches medical ethics at Harvard while his mother is a senior scientist at the Wisconsin Center for Educational Researcher and is a consultant for the United Nations. Huh.

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Police Association issued a statement asking officials to hold off until the matter can be reviewed and there is clearer understanding of events. They want to avoid any actions which would acerbate the already tense situation. However, not everybody was listening.

A white 17 year old, Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch Illinois was arrested for the shooting deaths of two individuals and the wounding of a third at a protest in Kenosha. Dead are a 26 and 36 year old while another 36 year was wounded. Rittenhouse voluntarily surrendered to police immediately after the shootings, was identified as a lifeguard and an avid police supporter. He claimed the shootings were in self defense, which begs the question as to why he was out there to begin with?

So, while the nation copes with another tragic shooting, a federal grand jury has charged the four officers involved with the death of George Floyd with possible criminal civil rights violations. Typically, federal authorities wait until the state concludes its investigation and legal actions before moving forward. However, in what's considered to be a highly unusual move (and perhaps in doing so, sending a signal to state officials), federal authorities have jumped out in front of the state.

Meanwhile, Minneapolis authorities are continuing their investigation. As it now stands, Derek Chauvin, the lead officer, is facing second and third degree murder and manslaughter charges. Chauvin, as you'll recall, was the officer who kneeled on George's neck which resulted in his death. Chauvin is currently being held in the Oaks Park Heights State Prison, a "Level 5" maximum security prison.

The remaining three--now former--officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Toa Thao, and Thomas Lane, are each facing charges as accomplices in George's death. Trial isn't expected until next year (Chauvin's trial date is in March). The three are free on bail for the time being.

While matters are moving swiftly in Minnesota, the same can't be said of the Breonna Taylor case. Initially, the police provided little in the way of information, and much of that was incomplete or inaccurate. They acted as if this was just another botched raid, and despite the accidental and unfortunate death of Taylor, the matter would simply blow over. Well, it didn't. What it did was blow up in their faces.

So, here we are, some five, almost six months after the shooting death of Ms. Taylor by some of "Louisville's finest", all but stuck in place. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Louisville has suffered (and I do mean "suffered") from a utter lack of leadership by the city's mayor. The Chief of Police, Steve Conrad, was fired just after this incident for a whole host of reasons, but for brevity's sake, we'll just call it ineptitude. Metro Council too has shown very little in terms of leadership.

Kentucky's Attorney General, Daniel Cameron (R), recently said that his investigation is still ongoing. Part of the reason was the painfully slow response of the LMPD's Public Integrity Unit providing information which should have provided originally. For some reason, the police department continues to drag its feet. The ballistics report remains incomplete. Supposedly, the FBI is involved with that, and have made repeated trips back to Ms. Taylor's apartment looking for further information.

As for the three officers involved in the shooting, Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly, and Myles Cosgrove, none have been charged. It's been suggested that Hankison could be charged with wanton endangerment. Acting Police Chief, Robert Schroeder, did fire him for "extreme indifference to the value of human life" for firing ten shots blindly into Ms. Taylor's dark apartment (and the one door). Regarding the other two officers, Mattingly and Cosgrove, it's about the search warrant.

The AG, Daniel Cameron, must prove they knew or suspected that the warrant to search Taylor's apartment was obtained fraudulently by another officer, Detective Joshua Jaynes. However, they can't be charged with Taylor's death since they were allegedly acting in self defense.

Jaynes obtained the no knock warrant based upon a statement from a U.S. Postal Inspector that drugs were supposedly being sent to Ms. Taylor's apartment. However, the inspector later stated in a interview with WDRB News that he said no such thing. What does this mean?

Jaynes could be charged with obtaining a warrant illegally. If Mattingly and Cosgrove knew this, it was an illegal search but that's a big "IF". They could face anything from a reprimand to possible disciplinary action plus a possible civil lawsuit. Meanwhile, Mattingly and Cosgrove are on desk duty.

Therefore, it appears that none of the three officers could be charged with Ms. Taylor's death. A far cry from the protestors are demanding. Perhaps it's not surprising since Louisville officers are rarely charged to begin with. That may be the real reason for the delay by LMPD and with the November election approaching, why Cameron and the other politicians aren't in any hurry for a quick resolution either.



Kenosha Shooting and Protests: Here's What We Know

17 year old arrested in shooting death of 2 at Kenosha protest

Federal grand jury investigating civil rights charges in the police killing of George Floyd

The countdown for answers in Breonna Taylor case looks as patience wavers in Louisville

To 'Protect and Serve', But Whom? The Decline of Trust in America's Police

I am not sure what to make of the death of George Floyd. As you probably know, Floyd was the man killed by Minneapolis Police Officer, Derek Chauvin, who, after handcuffing Floyd, kneeled on his neck with his full weight which, despite pleas from Floyd that he couldn't breathe, caused him to eventually passed out and die. Chauvin and the other officers who neither said or did anything, were fired the next day. While trial will no doubt be forthcoming, the central question is whether the officers will be held to the same standards as everyone else.

We all remember Eric Garner who was choked to death by one of New York's "finest", Officers Daniel Pantaleo, with assistance from Officer Justin D'Amico, despite pleading eleven times to the officers that he couldn't breathe (they insisted that Garner was continuing to "resist". Witnesses testified that he was only trying to get air and with every attempt, the officer's grip only tightened. Ultimately, the officers were acquitted of all charges. Even the Department of Justice refused to press charges.

In 2014, a 21 year old college student named James King was misidentified in connection with a non-violent petty crime. However, that didn't stop three members of a joint federal/state police task force of beating him into unconsciousness. These undercover officers, who did not identify themselves as such, were looking for someone wanted for stealing empty aluminum cans and a box of liquor. They pinned King against a van and while yelling at him, began looting his pockets. King, who thought he was being robbed, broke and ran only to be tackled by the officers and subsequently beaten to a pulp. He was ultimately hospitalized.

Passersbyers heard King's screams for help and called 911 while others began recording the assault. Eventually uniformed officers showed up. After discovering their mistake, the undercover officers demanded that all recordings be deleted. Still, King, who wasn't wanted for anything, was still charged with felony crimes. The matter eventually went to court, where, not unexpectedly, none of the officers would testify against the three undercover officers. While the case was eventually dismissed, none of the officers were held accountable. In fact, attorneys for the state argued that the officers were "exempt" from having violated King's constitutional rights!

On June 6, 2019, in another case of mistaken identity, Los Angeles sheriff deputies shot 24 year old Ryan Twyman 34 times as he sat, unarmed, in his car with another individual. Just a few hours later, a 27 year black male was shot and killed by officers as he walked down the street. The officers maintained that the individual was "acting suspiciously". When officers approached he started to run. The officers gave chase and eventually shot and killed the unarmed man. In fact, on that day, there was a total of five shootings by officers, resulting in the deaths of all but one of the suspects. Of those four, none were directly involved in any crimes. None of the officers involved were charged. Unfortunately, this has become the norm and not the exception.

I know that's a terrible thing to say. But it's also true. In 2018, around 1000 individuals were killed by police (and about the same amount in 2017). Of that, 98 non-federal officers were accused of murder and arrested. Out of these 98 individuals, only 35 were convicted; typically of a lesser crime such as involuntary manslaughter or negligent murder. 22 were acquitted while ten were dismissed by the judge (one by a grand jury). 21 cases remain pending, and just three were ultimately found guilty.

As an aside, a study from 2016 conducted by the American Journal on Public Health reported that black males were nearly three times more likely to be killed by police officers in general compared to white males (in terms of raw numbers, there were more white male deaths than any other race. However, that's because white males made up a larger share of the total population). "Death by cop" is the seventh highest cause of death among black men under 30.

Native Americans were also three times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than whites males while Hispanics were twice as likely. Asians had the lowest percentage, but also the smallest population sample. Regardless, remember that taxpayers are the ones picking up the tab in each one of these cases, including settlements, which are often in the millions of dollars.

On March 13, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky, undercover officers with Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) broke into an apartment using a "no knock" warrant with guns blazing. The officers claimed they were being shot at, and thus were responding with what they believed to be appropriate force. In the end, one individual, a male, was arrested and charged with attempted murder of a police officer and first degree assault, while another individual, a female, lay dead.

The officers were there to make a narcotics bust. They didn't identify themselves since this was an undercover operation. The problem, however, was that the officers had the wrong address. The man arrested by officers, Kenneth Walker, thought that their apartment was being broke into. The individual they shot and killed was a EMT employee who had been asleep in her bed. Her name was Breonna Taylor. She was just 26. She had been shot at least eight times. The officers had fired a total of approximately 25 rounds blindly into the house. Walker fired only a single round.

After realizing their mistake, the police clammed up, not releasing any information about the shooting to Ms. Taylor's family. It was a deliberate "tried and true" attempt to stall for as long as possible while trying to concoct a cover story to fed the victim's family and the media. Fortunately for the police, there were no body cameras or recordings since this was an undercover operation. As for the real suspect, he was found some ten miles away. At this juncture, the police have been slowly releasing information, albeit with contradictory statements. Certainly there will be an internal investigation, which is usually an effort to justify the action of officers and create a credible sounding scenario of events.

The matter will likely go to trial where, if it follows the usual pattern, every effort to shift the blame will be made. If past cases are any indication, the officers involved will get off with little more than a reprimand or they'll be "encouraged" to resign from the force with full benefits. Meanwhile, any settlements will be paid for by the residents of Jefferson County. It will likely include a non-disclosure agreement, which is a shame. Why? Well, if we are the ones paying for these screw-up's, then we deserve to know the full details wouldn't you agree?

The only upside of this tragedy is that the long embattled police chief, Steve Conrad, finally agreed to step down. However, rather than being fired as many throughout the community (including the FOP) had been demanding for years, he is retiring, which means he'll get full benefits courtesy of Louisville taxpayers. Conrad has a long track record of controversy. He mismanaged $6.2 million dollars in emergency funding (it was suppose to last six months. It lasted barely six weeks). There was the Explorer Scout sexual molestation debacle by police officers which he tried to sweep under the rug.

There has been numerous instances of police abuse or inattention which were covered up or excused, not to mention misuse of overtime, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years among many other incidents. He long ago lost the respect of the community, his fellow officers as well as the FOP, which in 2016 gave a 98% "no confidence" vote in Conrad's leadership, followed by a "no confidence" vote by the Metro Council in 2017.

Conrad failed repeatedly in creating a transparent police department or rebuilding public trust after his predecessor, Robert White left the LMPD in shambles. In short, Steve Conrad has been an embarrassment to Louisville along with his boss, Mayor Greg Fischer, who has done nothing but cover for him at our expense. Was it worth it to Breonna Taylor, the Explorer Scouts, and all the others?

There's no question that crime is on the rise. "No knock" warrants have their place. Originally, they were intended for those rare and exceptional cases where the lives of officers would be put in extraordinary danger and there was no other way to safely execute a search. Nowadays, "no knock" warrants are almost routinely issued; an average of approximately 20,000 a year. Also, there are no provisions to record what happens during these type of raids, and there should be. If, for no other reason, than to safe guard the rights of every citizen in this country whether they are accused of a crime or not.

Secondly, we see too many cases where the police engage in a "shoot first lawyer up later" mentality. Part of this is the pressure police officers are under. It's a dangerous world out there and respect for the law or law enforcement is in short supply. The "bad guys" are often better armed and more willing to shoot cops than ever before. Gang members from south of the border face far worse conditions in their prisons than ours, which are seen as "resorts" and the death penalty is rare, so they have little to fear.

Another part of the problem is police militarization. They're dressed equipped like the military. They are frequently trained like the military. Their thinking is geared along military lines as are their operations. Is it any wonder they are acting like the military? Their motto, "protect and serve" is now "control and maintain". The public is viewed as criminals who haven't been caught...yet. When those you're suppose to serve are seen as part of the problem, it's not long before trust on both sides vanishes.

We also have to add a failure of leadership to lead; a failure to take responsibility. They should openly invite the public spotlight, not hide from it. Officers should be trained to use deadly force last, not first. That includes not just in the use of weapons, but also physically. Once they undertake any step to detain or arrest someone, they are by definition taking charge of that person which includes insuring their safety. It's also imperative that everyone understands that running from cops or assaulting one is a bad idea. It's not a game. Regardless of what you did or didn't do, you must follow the officer's instructions and don't mouth off. It's better to speak up in court than having someone speak at your funeral.

While there's a natural bond between law enforcement and the judicial system, a conspiracy, implied or not, to obscure or distort the facts cannot be allowed to exist. When police officers or judges mess up (and they do just like anyone else), they must be fully held responsible for their actions in the most transparent way possible. Because they are held to a higher standard, there cannot be the slightest hint of impropriety else the whole social system, which is ultimately based on faith and trust, collapses.

That is what we're seeing right now. The American People have lost faith in their institutions. They no longer trust the politicians, the media, the school system, corporations, or even in religious institutions. Nevertheless, we are first and foremost a nation of laws, which are applicable to everyone equally without regard to race, class, religion, or any other criteria. When we cease having faith in those laws and how they are applied, then there is nothing left to hold us together. When that happens, we lose not just our nation, but our identity as Americans as well. For more information, be sure to check out our links below.



Mayor: Officer who put knee on man's neck should be charged


Police officer convicted of fatal shootings are the exception, not the rule


Black men nearly 3 times as likely to die from police use of force, study says

After Police Brutally Beat And Hospitalized James King, The Government Closed Ranks And Is Using A Legal Shell Game To Avoid Accountability

Los Angeles officers shot at Ryan Twyman 34 times. He was one of four killed that day


Louisville police conducting a drug bust charged into Breonna Taylor's house and shot her eight times. Her family says they were at the wrong address


Getting killed by police is a leading cause of death for young black men in America