LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After nearly five years, the high-profile investigations into sexual harassment and other allegations at an "adult pool" party thrown by Maj. Shannon Lauder, who at one point led the First Division, and her husband, Lt. Jeffrey Lauder, who was in charge of SWAT, have finally ended.
On April 29, Jeffrey Lauder was found to have committed conduct unbecoming "at a party at your home during the summer of 2020," according to a memo from Chief Paul Humphrey. But he was cleared of the most serious allegations, sexual harassment, untruthfulness and a second violation of conduct unbecoming.
"Although it is unclear exactly what occurred at the party and whether you made unwanted sexual advanced to (redacted), the results have had a negative impact on this department," Humphrey wrote.
The party was largely attended by members of the police department and their spouses, Humphrey wrote. Jeffrey Lauder was suspended for 15 days, resigned as commander of the SWAT team and transferred to patrol.
Shannon Lauder retired as of April 1. But in a April 28 memo, the chief said the investigation had been completed and no violations against her were sustained.
"Do to the above findings, no disciplinary actions would have been taken," the chief wrote.
The department's investigation into the couple was delayed by a 2023 lawsuit filed on behalf of the fraternal order of police.
The Lauders were accused of sexually harassing Sgt. Lauren Carby, who filed a lawsuit last year claiming the couple were "grossly inappropriate" in making sexual comments and advances toward her.
The disciplinary documents redact the name of the victim.
"In contradiction to the promises of Chief Humphrey and Mayor Greenberg, the outcome of these investigations shows that sexual harassment is being handled the same at LMPD as always ... calling it a different name and minimizing the perpetrators actions," said attorney Sara Collins, who represents Carby. "They continue to enforce that status quo at LMPD, a 'good ole boy' system well-proven to be harmful to female and minority officers and the community. We are disappointed by the continued refusal of LMPD and the Mayor's office to support sexual harassment victims."
Shannon Lauder claimed in her own lawsuit that she was sexually harassed by Maj. Brian Kuriger, the major in charge of investigating the pool party incident. Kuriger was cleared of any wrongdoing last year. Local attorney James Dilback was asked to conduct the investigation. The lawsuit is pending.
She initially complained about Kuriger during a May 22 meeting with former Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel and her command staff.
Mayor Craig Greenberg put Gwinn-Villaroel on administrative leave for her handling of that meeting, in which she promoted Kuriger to lieutenant colonel right after Lauder had accused him of sexual harassment. At a news conference June 25, 2024, Greenberg said Gwinn-Villaroel resigned
Gwinn-Villaroel said in her June 25, 2024, resignation letter that Greenberg had requested she resign and that she did so "with a heavy heart and considerable amount of duress."
In September, the mayor 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.
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.
The lawsuit filed by Carby claims Shannon and Jeff Lauder had an "adult only" pool party with members of the Domestic Violence Unit and sex crimes detectives where Jeff Lauder made sexual advances toward Carby.
The lawsuit, which is pending, accuses Lauder and her husband of sexual misconduct, alleging the two openly talked about their extramarital relationships and Shannon Lauder told Carby to come back to the pool party when she tried to leave following her husband's advances.
When Carby went back to the Lauder home, according to the lawsuit, Jeff Lauder was waiting. He led her upstairs where Shannon Lauder was sitting on a couch, "highly intoxicated, and attempting to locate" a detective she was seen kissing earlier at the party.
Shannon Lauder allegedly told Carby that she "had her blessing to engage in a relationship with Jeff," according to the lawsuit.
The chief's memo said this allegation was not sustained.
When Shannon Lauder left the room, Jeff Lauder tried to kiss Carby, the suit claims. Carby allegedly pushed him away and left the home.
Shannon Lauder apologized the next day, telling Carby she had "overshared," according to the suit.
Carby, who was working under Lauder in the sex crimes unit, alleges that rumors swirled about the party and some people suggested she was a "willing participant."
Despite the rumors, there was no immediate investigation into the party, the alleged harassment by Jeff Lauder or the allegations that Shannon Lauder was having a relationship with a detective under her command, the suit claims.
Meanwhile, Carby was repeatedly denied promotions, including one in which Chief Gwinn-Villaroel "refused to appoint Lauren to the position."
"Lauren realized that the last years would have been tremendously easier for her professionally if she had simply slept with Jeff Lauder in 2020," according to the suit.
On May 15, 2024, Carby wrote a memo to the department about the events of the 2020 pool party and other alleged harassment by Shannon and Jeff Lauder.
In a previous statement, a spokeswoman for LMPD said, "We will not tolerate sexual misconduct as it runs afoul of our mission to provide a safe work environment for our entire team and city."
The department initiated an investigation in Oct. 2022 into these allegations and "we are extremely frustrated we could not reach a conclusion to this investigation as the court sided with the FOP to temporarily stop the investigation from proceeding," according to the statement.
"We take this — and all — allegations of this nature seriously and will thoroughly complete our investigation and take action. We are currently reviewing all of the allegations in this lawsuit and will share more information as we are able to."
The lawsuit says the FOP filed a filed a lawsuit against the city alleging that LMPD violated the terms of its Collective Bargaining Agreement with the FOP by improperly initiating an internal investigation based upon confidential and protected information.
An attorney for Shannon Lauder, Jared Smith, said in a previous statement that the allegations are "unfounded."
"The Lauders have dedicated their careers to honorable policing within LMPD for 16 years," he said. "The timing of Carby's lawsuit appears opportunistic, based on other recent sexual harassment claims against LMPD. Her allegations are unfounded. LMPD has improperly investigated this internally going back years, as cited by a recent ruling that stems from a suit filed by the FOP. This case is an example of a botched internal investigation that continued based on rumor and innuendo."
Smith did not return a message seeking comment.
Correction: An earlier version of this story indicated Shannon Lauder retired and the investigation would not be completed. In fact, the investigation was completed and none of the allegations were sustained.
This story may be updated.
Related Stories:
LMPD major accuses union president, 2 colleagues of covering up sexual harassment investigation
Louisville police major cleared of sexual harassment allegations that prompted resignation of chief
LMPD officer claims FOP wrongly blocked investigation of misconduct at 'adult pool party'
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
