Greenberg backs aspects of Kentucky lawmakers' crime-fighting proposal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Mayor Craig Greenberg said Wednesday he backs "some things" of a wide-ranging effort to address crime in Louisville and Kentucky, including state lawmakers’ push to create a wiretapping law.

Greenberg also offered support for a proposal that would let citizens bid on seized weapons used in murders that would then be destroyed, calling it a “an initial first step” towards what he hopes are stricter laws on confiscated guns.

“Let me be clear, here in Louisville we cannot solve our gang and gun violence problem without the help of the General Assembly,” Greenberg told reporters, saying he looks forward to working with legislative leaders in the coming months to “implement laws that will help us make Louisville safer.”

His remarks came a day after Republican state lawmakers from Louisville unveiled the framework for a bill they plan to file when the General Assembly convenes in January. The proposal – dubbed the Safer Kentucky Act – includes at least 18 changes to state law, such as new regulations on bail funding groups, bans on “street camping” and adding a carjacking statute.

Greenberg, a Democrat in his first term as mayor, said he is in favor of Kentucky joining the majority of U.S. states with a wiretapping law. “We need that so we can specifically target and address our gang violence problem in particular,” he said.

Greenberg said his focus will be on policies that “will actually prevent crimes from happening.”

In his campaign for mayor, Greenberg pledged to alter guns used in crimes so they couldn’t fire before turning them over for auction by Kentucky State Police, as required under a longstanding state law. His plan was meant to stop weapons from being recycling and used in multiple crimes.

After taking office in January, the Greenberg administration announced it would require officers to take the firing pin out, but keep it attached, before making guns available to state police. In addition, Louisville police officers must place a warning sticker showing the weapon might have been used in a homicide.

The issue garnered new public attention after Connor Sturgeon shot and killed five people in a downtown Louisville bank in April, prompting Greenberg to renew his calls for changes to the state law. Sturgeon’s family also urged lawmakers to act.

The proposal introduced this week would let people buy weapons used in murders at auction and have state police destroy them. That way, Rep. John Hodgson (R-Fisherville) said in a press release, revenue generated by the sales would still be used to purchase equipment for law enforcement agencies.

The GOP proposal also would call for the creation of a state police post in Louisville. Greenberg questioned that approach, given staffing shortages there and at other police departments, including LMPD.

“I'm not sure they have the resources to be able to provide that here in Louisville without impacting other parts of the state,” he said. “So in the spirit of partnership, let's get both organizations fully recruited so that they have full teams and then let's talk about maybe expanding it from there.”

Greenberg said his focus will be on policies that “will actually prevent crimes from happening.”

The crime proposal unveiled this week included “early details” of what ultimately will be put in draft legislation to be introduced later this year, said Lauren Holder of the House Republican leadership staff.

Among those details are measures to prevent homeless people from camping in public and private areas. The street camping ban requires people staying in those places to leave immediately if asked by property owners or police. If someone refuses, he could be “physically relocated” by police and face a misdemeanor.

In addition, property owners wouldn’t be held “criminally liable” if they defend themselves from the “aggressive actions” of someone who refuses to leave a street camp.

George Eklund, director of education and advocacy for the Coalition for the Homeless, said the Kentucky proposal is in line with state legislative actions in other states that take aim at homeless camps. He said his organization has had previous, constructive conversations with lawmakers on policy ideas.

Now that details of the upcoming legislation have been introduced, Eklund said he hopes the legislature will listen to groups that work with the homeless.

“I hope that they are willing to listen to service providers, I hope they're willing to listen to people that are unsheltered,” he said. “Because at the end of the day, we have 1,600 people that are homeless each night, and we only have about 750 shelter spots. So, by default, people are being forced to sleep on the streets every day.”