LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Former Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said in her June 25 resignation letter that Mayor Craig Greenberg had requested she resign and that she did so "with a heavy heart and considerable amount of duress."

At a news conference June 25, Greenberg said Gwinn-Villaroel resigned after being put on administrative leave over her handling of sexual harassment allegations from a high-ranking officer.

"Over the past few weeks, we've learned about a series of sexual harassment allegations within the department itself," Greenberg said. "Some new details emerged over the last few days that were deeply troubling and disappointing. It's unacceptable and inexcusable. Everyone should be treated with respect."

Greenberg would not say at the time whether he asked Gwinn-Villaroel for her resignation.

In her June 25 resignation letter, Gwinn-Villaroel wrote to the mayor that she was leaving "pursuant to your request for my resignation." 

In her June 25 resignation letter, Gwinn-Villaroel wrote to the mayor that she was leaving "pursuant to your request for my resignation."

Gwinn-Villaroel wrote that she became chief during "challenging times" where a wall of "divisiveness between the men and women of LMPD, the citizens, media, and the mayoral administration existed."

While she said she tried to foster an environment of "trust and legitimacy," she ran into "an invasive presence of professional and ethical apathy that was counterproductive to morale."

She called it an "apathetic professional malaise." 

Gwinn-Villaroel, who will receive four months of pay pursuant to her contract and to assist with her transition, did not discuss the sexual harassment case that ultimately led to her departure. Her last day will be Oct. 26, according to her resignation letter. Until then, she will be working remotely.

Download PDF Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroels' Resignation Letter

Major Shannon Lauder complained in a May meeting with Gwinn-Villaroel and command staff that she was sexually harassed by Major Brian Kuriger.

On audio of the May 22 meeting, the chief promoted Kuriger to lieutenant colonel about a minute after Lauder had accused him of sexual harassment.

Greenberg said he became aware of how the chief "handled a workplace sexual harassment allegation involving LMPD officers" and suspended her. 

Greenberg suspended Gwinn-Villaroel on June 12 pending a review of the complaint "regarding your alleged conduct," according to a memo the mayor sent to the chief on June 14. 

Retired FBI agent David Beyer is leading an independent investigation into the chief's handling of the allegation. A separate, independent investigation will look into the harassment claim itself. Beyer previously investigated Metro Corrections and sexual harassment allegations at TARC at the request of the Metro Council. 

Since then, two sexual harassment lawsuits have been filed by female LMPD officers. 

In her two-page letter obtained by WDRB News under the Kentucky Open Records law, Gwinn-Villaroel wrote about the department’s "longstanding cultural deficiencies" that permeated the department from leadership to rank-and-file officers.

She claimed that the media had reported she was often "too hard on my commanders," which she agreed was true due to the need to rid the department of "cronyism, cliques and indiscretion, bullying and backbiting."

Gwinn-Villaroel acknowledged her resignation letter was longer than typical but that Louisville citizens and LMPD officers and staff "deserve to know I have not and will not abandon them."

Although she is leaving, "I do not resign myself to believe that LMPD is incapable of being a world-class department," she wrote, acknowledging that there is "much work still to be done toward changing the culture at LMPD." 

"I am humbled to have been of service to those who share the mission and looking forward to any future opportunities to service the citizens of Louisville," according to the letter. 

Greenberg made acting chief Col. Paul Humphrey the interim chief until a permanent chief is named.

Humphrey is the sixth person in four years to lead LMPD. He joined the department in 2006 and spent several years as an officer in the city's 1st and 6th divisions in the Newburg and Russell neighborhoods. In 2010, he joined the SWAT team and became its commander in 2017.

This is a developing story that will be updated.

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