WASHINGTON — Just last month, Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, announced the city had reached a historic agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the Louisville Metro Police Department.


What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville, announced the city had reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice in Dec. 2024

  • The consent decree followed a DOJ investigation that found Louisville's police department had engaged in a pattern of conduct violating rights

  • It appears President Donald Trump's administration is stopping police reform agreements in which the DOJ found a pattern of misconduct, according to a new Justice Department memo per CNN  

  • Spectrum News 1 left messages with the DOJ and the Trump administration

The consent decree followed a DOJ investigation released nearly three years after police shot and killed Breonna Taylor during a raid at her Louisville home.

DOJ found LMPD had engaged in a pattern of conduct violating constitutional rights and federal law and police were using excessive force and discriminating against Black people.

“New policies will ensure that officers employ deescalation strategies, limit dangerous tactics and refrain from using force to punish or retaliate against people,” said then-Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke in Dec. 2024.  

Now, it appears President Donald Trump’s administration is stopping police reform agreements in which the DOJ found a pattern of misconduct.

According to CNN, a new Justice Department memo orders the agency’s civil rights division not to execute or finalize agreements approved before Trump returned to office.

That could impact Louisville’s consent decree finalized just 42 days ago, said Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville.

We’re nearly four years into it, and for Trump to come in at the last minute and undo it, I think it's it puts our city backwards.”“This consent decree was reached between the department and the city and the Department of Justice, and it says we're going to have more accountability, we're going to find ways to move forward as a community to keep everyone safe,” McGarvey said. “It's finished. We’re nearly four years into it, and for Trump to come in at the last minute and undo it, I think it's it puts our city backwards.”

Greenberg said in a statement Thursday that he and Police Chief Paul Humphrey are "committed to implementing the reforms" in the agreement.

“The city is preparing to file a brief in support of the consent decree by February 18, as requested by the judge. Regardless of what happens in federal court, Louisville Metro Government and LMPD will move forward and honor our commitment to meaningful improvements and reforms.”

Before Louisville’s consent decree goes into effect, a federal judge must sign off on it. The city’s Office of Inspector General said this week the judge issued an order last week seeking more information. McGarvey urged the judge to sign the agreement Thursday.

Spectrum News 1 left messages with the DOJ and the Trump administration.