Community meets with new independent monitor of Louisville's police department

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Community members got the chance to meet the new watchdog for the Louisville Metro Police Department during a meet and greet on Wednesday.

Effective Law Enforcement for All, called ELEFA, was selected by Mayor Craig Greenberg in September to serve as an independent monitor for LMPD.

As independent monitor, ELEFA will serve as a neutral evaluator of LMPD's progress in carrying out the city's "Community Commitment — Louisville's Consent Decree."

Hiring an independent police monitor is part of the city's plan for police reform after the U.S. Department of Justice, under President Donald Trump's administration, dismissed two federal consent decrees—including Louisville's, in May. The sweeping police reform agreement was reached at the end of former President Joe Biden's administration in the aftermath of the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor, but needed court approval to progress—which had not yet been given.

Officials with ELEFA said Wednesday their work involves a constant dialogue with the community, starting now.

"Any time that you see information out for ELEFA, we welcome you. Please, do come because we want to hear from all of Louisville. Not just one portion, not just one part, but all of Louisville," Sheree Briscoe-Stewart, lead monitor with ELEFA, said. "So any time that we're in town, any time that we are going to be joining virtually, we welcome community. Please come out and join us and at least engage with us in conversation and at least engage in the process."

Briscoe-Stewart said ELEFA plans to be on the ground in Louisville starting in February.

How we got here

Greenberg and Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey have pledged to continue with the improvements recommended by the DOJ, even if they're not mandated by court order. The plan is to do so by implementing the city's version of the agreement.

In June, Metro Council narrowly approved a resolution endorsing the consent decree recommendations in a 248-page DOJ report in 2023 that concluded Louisville police and Metro government for years engaged in practices that violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law, including excessive use of force and searches based on invalid warrants.

The Biden administration's Justice Department reported the findings of its review March 8, 2023, nearly two years after the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor, which prompted both local and national criticism of the police department as well as months of protests.

The group will report directly to the new Community Safety Commission and issue semi-annual public reports. ELEFA will also meet regularly with community members under a renewable contract with Louisville Metro Government for up to five years.

The Community Safety Commission will serve as a forum for public feedback on crime prevention and police reform. It will receive updates on the Safe Louisville crime reduction plan and monitor its progress.

Commission members represent all LMPD patrol divisions and include stakeholders from the justice system, Jefferson County Public Schools, and community sectors such as faith leaders, crime victims, business owners, educators and medical professionals. The commission is co-facilitated by Misty Wright, executive director of community safety, and Chan Kemper, deputy general counsel in the mayor’s office.

The monitor will track reforms and report to the public on progress during scheduled briefings and through a dedicated section on LMPD's website. The monitor will also provide reports regularly to the new Community Safety Commission—which is part of the Safe Louisville crime reduction plan.

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