Louisville Metro Council Rejects TPCD Demands
Political Heat, Post 1 - First in a series - The People’s Consent Decree -TPCD- Derailed; WWDD? (What Would Dieruf Do?)
As we look toward early autumn for more news of Brett Hankison’s retrial, we’ll review some hot and sticky topics during the summer months. This new blog series is intended to encourage those who care about police and police protection to attend the October trial.
The Political Heat Series will address, in part:
The recent Louisville Metro Council rejection of the Resolution embodying the demands of The People’s Consent Decree (TPCD)
A look at the University of Louisville (UofL) History of Policing in Louisville Report — referenced by TPCD
How Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) differed from Biden’s
The continuing debate and proposed federal legislation about police search warrants
The concept of double jeopardy in the law.
These Metro Council members voted in favor of the Resolution, l to r: Jecorey Arthur-D4, Jennifer Chappell-D15, Shameka Parrish-Wright-D3, Betsy Ruhe-D21.
What is TPCD?
When I heard Tameka Parrish-Wright ask an audience to endorse TPCD, I thought she was urging us to show support for the DOJ Consent Decree (DOJ-CD). However, the TPCD Resolution wants
those harmed by the LMPD,
those working in social services, and
certain groups
to be part of the DOJ-CD negotiations.
The DOJ has only included community groups and individuals in several brief public or virtual meetings.
Some background
You may recall that Mayor Greg Fischer wanted to be responsive to the protestors following the death of Breonna Taylor, so he invited the DOJ to investigate the LMPD. The investigation began on April 26, 2021, and the DOJ Report issued its 90-page report on March 8, 2023. Following is an abbreviated list of its findings that are included in TPCD’s Resolution. The LMPD—
uses excessive force
conducts searches based on invalid warrants
unlawfully executes search warrants without knocking and announcing
unlawfully stops, searches, detains and arrests people
unlawfully discriminates against Black people
violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech critical of policing
discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities.
The eight Republicans on the Council voted NO, l to r, top: Kahlil Batshon-D25, Stuart Benson-D20, Robin Engel-D22, Kevin Kramer-D11, Marilyn Parker-D18, Anthony Piagentini-D19, Scott Reed-D16, Dan Seum, Jr-D13.
Had you forgotten the DOJ Report’s strong focus on the Breonna Taylor false narrative?
If the use of excessive force of which Brett is accused was unreasonable, why has he not been indicted after two jury trials?
If the search warrant for the Breonna Taylor incident was so misinformed, why has the trial for Joshua Jaynes not taken place? What information will we learn?
The seven police who served the warrant at Taylors’ apartment have all said there was a great deal of knocking and announcing. They are or were officers we can be proud of, not prejudiced (racist) or bullies.
But who are the people and groups of TPCD?
Following is the first sentence of The People’s Consent Decree Demands:
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 are able to live up to their full potential without the threat of harm from those sworn to protect and serve.
Here are the groups and organizations that TPCD demands must be “involved in every step of the negotiations and monitoring moving forward”:
These are people who endorse ‘Restorative Justice’ and believe—
White supremacy is embedded in the institutions of our society and explodes constantly in our daily lives. This continues to make our city a deeply divided city. The progress that has been made came as a result of an organized grassroots, racial justice movement. Any future progress will come from keeping that movement growing.
Nine Democrats voted NO: Brent Ackerson-D26, Rick Blackwell-D12, Cindi Fowler-D14, Tammy Hawkins-D1, Jeff Hudson-D23, Andrew Owen-D9, Ben Reno-Weber-D8, Barbara Shanklin-D2, Markus Winkler-D17.
An aside: Perhaps most black Americans disagree with the above sentiment. Ward Connerly, a black conservative, and founder and president of the American Civil Rights Institute, has stated:
If I have learned one thing from life, it is that race is the engine that drives the political Left. When all else fails, that segment of America goes to the default position of using race to achieve its objectives. In the courtrooms, on college campuses, and, most especially, in our politics, race is a central theme. Where it does not naturally rise to the surface, there are those who will manufacture and amplify it.
The ‘Restorative Justice’ groups are listed in the Resolution sponsored by Tameka Parrish-Wright. On their behalf, she urged its passage at the June 20, 2024, Metro Council meeting.
A fellow Democrat, Paula McCraney, opposed the Resolution, saying it was not ‘succinct’ in its language and would not pass. She called for the vote, a motion that was quickly seconded, so not only did the Council not pass the Resolution, they did not debate it.
Three members voted PRESENT: Phillip Baker-D6, Paula McCraney-D7, Donna Purvis-D5. Two had an excused absence, Madonna Flood and Pat Mulvihill.
The Metro Council has eight Republican members and 18 Democrats. That night two Dems were absent, three voted “present”, nine voted with the Reps, and four voted in favor of the Resolution.
The TPCD Resolution says the Council should recognize
the UofL Report
that Louisville is a welcoming city, and
that transparency is tantamount to public trust
and resolve to:
urge the LMPD and Mayor’s office to publicly acknowledge both (1) the institutional harms inflicted by the LMPD and (2) the existing discriminatory culture within the LMPD
urge that the ‘groups, individuals’ (see above) be consulted monthly during DOJ-CD negotiations
request a detailed timeline for the creation and implementation of the DOJ-CD to be publicly available for the community
not allocate additional funds to the LMPD outside the regular budget cycle
allocate any budget surpluses during the fiscal year to housing, healthcare and restorative justice practices
release the names of the officers, supervisors and judges referred to in the DOJ report and/or future cases of misconduct and discrimination
urge that the ‘groups, individuals’ should observe contract negotiations between Metro Government and the FOP
urge that any and all charges against residents, relating to the 2020 protests, be dismissed.
Perhaps each Council member who voted against the Resolution would have a different view of these demands. Maybe some just weren’t sure they should further insult the LMPD whose numbers are so far down.
Ms. Parrish-Wright and her groups are not opposed to the Biden DOJ’s motives and philosophies, but only to being excluded from current negotiations.
All police departments have a need for continual improvement. No one disagrees with that, even the police themselves. But the Biden DOJ should never have been invited into our community to boss our police. We could ask: What would Bill Dieruf have done?
Did you know that no Consent Decrees were issued during the Trump years? Fourteen were handed down under Obama.