‘A tragic accident’ | LMPD chief addresses officer’s 95 mph crash, discipline, accountability | Local News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey is addressing the resignation of Officer Alyssa Begel, whose high-speed crash killed another driver earlier this year.

Humphrey joined WDRB Mornings on Tuesday and called the incident “a tragic accident” that continues to impact everyone involved.

“You’re talking about a family who’s lost a loved one,” Humphrey said. “And ultimately, you’re also talking about someone whose career with LMPD is over.”

Investigators said Begel was driving 95 miles per hour without lights or sirens when she hit another car in April 2025. The other driver, 38-year-old Charles Briscoe, was found to be intoxicated at the scene. Begel was initially suspended for 30 days before she resigned from the department.

Some have questioned why she was not fired, but Humphrey said the disciplinary process followed state guidelines.

“The punishment is more than sufficient,” he said. “Her employment with LMPD is over. That stays on her record, and any other agency in the country would see that.”

Humphrey said the case does not meet the state criteria for decertification, meaning Begel could technically apply for law enforcement jobs elsewhere, though her record would reflect the disciplinary action.

When asked if he had spoken with Briscoe’s family, Humphrey said he had not, but expressed sympathy for their loss.

“My heart still breaks for them to this day,” he said. “That’s a good family, and it’s absolutely horrible for everybody involved.”

Chief's relationship with Inspector General

Humphrey also discussed his relationship with Inspector General Ed Harness, who was recently reappointed for another term overseeing police accountability. Harness previously described his working relationship with Humphrey as “cold.”

Humphrey said the relationship doesn’t need to be personal to be productive.

“We don’t have to be friends to work well together,” he said. “This is a professional relationship. He’s supposed to give feedback to us and to the public about the job we’re doing, and we’re willing to accept that.”

Humphrey also pushed back on the notion that officers aren’t held accountable, noting that Kentucky law limits disciplinary suspensions to 30 days.

“Don’t think that 30 days is not discipline,” Humphrey said. “Can you imagine losing your salary for 30 days? That’s a pretty severe punishment.”

He added that his department is working closely with civilian oversight groups, the Inspector General’s Office, and the federal consent decree monitor to ensure transparency and accountability.

Louisville crime trends

Turning to crime trends, Humphrey said overall crime is down across Louisville — including juvenile crime, though at a slower rate than adult offenses.

“This is a larger societal issue,” he said. “We have to get to these kids and their parents before they ever go down that route. Schools, churches, neighborhoods — everyone has to own their part of it.”

Humphrey said he supports reopening a local youth detention center, which could keep young offenders closer to home and provide better access to legal and family support.

“It’s not fair to these kids to be shipped three hours away,” he said. “We’d be able to give better resources and support inside a local facility.”

As for what’s driving the overall drop in crime, Humphrey credits the community’s cooperation and the work of LMPD officers.

“Our officers are out there working their butts off,” he said. “Visibility and interaction matter — whether it’s enforcement or just talking to people on the street. Those things go a long way.”

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