LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An investigation into allegations of misconduct by former Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel in her handling of a workplace sexual harassment allegation involving officers has been sustained. 

On June 13, Mayor Craig Greenberg suspended Gwinn-Villaroel because of concerns with her handling of a complaint during a meeting with her command staff where she promoting a male officer to lieutenant colonel right after a female major had accused him of sexual harassment.

Gwinn-Villaroel resigned June 25 at the request of Greenberg. 

On Thursday, Greenberg wrote in a memo to Gwinn-Villaroel that an investigation conducted by retired FBI agent David Beyer sustained an allegation of "conduct unbecoming" against the former chief. 

"The Chief’s reaction to the allegations and the way she handled the matter within the meeting adversely affected the morale of the department, adversely affected or lowered the public’s respect and confidence in the department which is a clear violation" of LMPD standard operating procedures, Beyer concluded. 

Because she resigned, no further action will be taken, according to the memo.

"Between updating and clarifying sexual harassment definitions, to establishing new reporting options and mandatory staff trainings, LMPD has taken meaningful steps to ensure employees who allege sexual harassment receive more support," Greenberg said in a statement. "I want to thank Mr. Beyer for completing a thorough and independent investigation. I accept his findings and I consider this matter closed."

A spokeswoman for police said in a statement: 

“LMPD has received the findings of the investigation conducted by Mr. Beyer. We understand and take seriously the recommendations he has made, and the department will act upon them accordingly. LMPD remains committed to continuous improvement and implementing changes which will move the department forward in the best interest of those we protect and serve."

The allegations were made by Maj. Shannon Lauder, who was sick and joined a May 22 command staff meeting virtually. According to an audio file of the meeting, Gwinn-Villaroel called on each major in the meeting, asking them if there was anyone else on the staff they couldn't work with.

Lauder responded: "Ma'am, I cannot work with (Maj. Brian Kuriger). He has sexually harassed me and attacked me, and I cannot work with him."

The room went silent for 21 seconds before Gwinn-Villaroel said "All right" and continued calling on other majors. Shortly thereafter, she confirmed Kuriger's promotion.

Greenberg has said the allegation didn't involve Gwinn-Villaroel, rather her handling of it once it was reported to her.

Beyer lead an independent investigation into the chief's handling of the allegation, interviewing 22 people in total, including Gwinn-Villaroel and Lauder. Beyer previously investigated Metro Corrections and sexual harassment allegations at TARC at the request of the Metro Council.

The investigation did not review allegations against Kuriger. 

Last month, Kuriger was cleared of wrongdoing by new Chief Paul Humphrey. 

Kuriger was exonerated on charges of sexual harassment and conduct unbecoming.

"I have found that no misconduct or violations of policy occurred," Humphrey said in a memo. 

According to interviews during the investigation, those in the meeting said they were “surprised,” “shocked,” “shellshocked,” “stunned,” “dumbfounded,” or “flabbergasted” by the allegations against Kuriger, according to Beyer's 157-page report. 

Most also said the allegations by Lauder should have been presented in a different forum rather than in the presence of the entire Command Staff.

But the command staff said the former chief should have stopped the meeting and addressed the allegations before moving forward with promotions.

"The Chief moving forward with the meeting and promoting Major Kuriger within minutes of Major Lauder making a very serious allegation against Major Kuriger left the impression with Major Lauder, the public, and potentially other members of LMPD that the Chief was dismissive of the allegations and, perhaps didn’t consider sexual harassment a serious matter," Beyer wrote. 

Humphrey has since changed the policy on sexual harassment allegations mandating that supervisors are required to report received complaints of misconduct, including allegations of harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse or discrimination, through the appropriate chain of command.

The previous policy required commander to ensure the alleged harasser have no contact with the person who filed the complaint. 

In his interview, Kuriger said he told the former chief not to promote him during this investigation, "that the optics of it was would not be appropriate."

Gwinn-Villaroel resigned June 25 at the request of Greenberg.

Lauder said it was "inappropriate for her to announce his promotion whether (the chief) believe me or not," according to a transcript of her interview.

"I can't imagine what she was thinking or why she wouldn't believe me," she said. "It wasn't the appropriate response."

Gwinn-Villaroel told Beyer she was "taken off guard" by Lauder's allegations,

"I didn't know that was going to be stated and surely not in that form," according to a transcript of her interview. 

The former chief said there was a gasp in the room, "then I proceed on as I am processing like 'what just happened' because this has never occurred." 

She also said the narrative that people were promoted was wrong because only the mayor can sign off on promotions. 

In addition, Gwinn-Villaroel said she acknowledged Lauder's allegations and said they would be addressed. 

"I think it's important that everyone understood immediately that this was a concern and it was going to be addressed," she said. "And (Lauder) was fully aware that this was going to be on hold and no one was going to be promoted. ... There was no malicious intent to ignore her concern."

Earlier this year, Lauder and her husband, Lt. Jeff Lauder, were accused in a  lawsuit of "grossly inappropriate" behavior at an "adult pool" party in August 2020 and making sexual comments and advances toward another officer, Sgt. Lauren Carby.

Shortly thereafter, an internal investigation of the party, in part, prompted a lawsuit by the Lauders, claiming Shannon Lauder was sexually harassed by Kuriger, the major in charge of investigating the pool party incident.

Beyer also did not investigate the allegations of the pool party. 

Shannon Lauder claimed that, in February 2023, she went directly to Gwinn-Villaroel, and the chief allegedly said she did not "want to address Shannon's complaints and informed Shannon that the entire situation frustrated her because it pre-dated her becoming Chief of LMPD and should have been addressed by her predecessors, but failed to offer to help or support Shannon," according to the lawsuit.

Several people interviewed said the former chief seemed angry during the meeting and was upset by the lack of commanders at a shooting review meeting that morning. She told the group they needed to get along before asking if there was anybody they couldn't work with. 

One major told Beyer that Gwinn-Villaroel demeanor was “businesslike” and that “it wasn’t a jovial demeanor.”

In her interview, Gwinn-Villaroel said she was pushing her staff to do better and wanted to know if everyone was on the same page and could work together. 

This story may be updated.

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