Former LMPD officer named director of team that will help Louisville gang members change their paths

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A former Louisville Metro Police officer will lead a new team helping local gang members change their lives.

Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Friday the hiring of Michael Bogan as the director of the Office of Group Violence Intervention. According to a news release, GVI has "a comprehensive partnership with local, state and federal agencies aimed at helping young people involved with groups or gangs find a new path away from violence and crime."

The budget approved by Metro Council earlier this month included three new positions within the Office of GVI. Bogan will serve as director and the two assistants will be named in the coming months.

"Oftentimes we will bring GVI personnel, a LMPD officer, a member of clergy, a community member and they each speak to that individual through their own lens about how their activity is affecting the city, affecting their neighborhood," Deputy Mayor David James said.

Bogan and his team will reach out to known gang members in Louisville and warn them about their consequences of their crimes. Bogan will begin his position July 3.

"Our goal is to make sure that they don't get shot again," James said. "And nor do they shoot anybody else."

Pastor Nathan Horton is a chaplain for LMPD, the superintendent of the Church of God in Christ and also a part of the GVI.

"You see family members crying and you see them wanting to know about the loves," Horton said.

At LMPD, Bogan served as a sergeant with the Special Investigations Division in 2014 and 2015, as a lieutenant in 2016 and was a major from late 2016-20. In 2021, Bogan was named the executive advisor of the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training.

James said the program has been working so far.

"This year we've interdicted 89 youth that have been involved in gang or group activity," James said. "So far, none of them have reoffended.

James said if they don't change then there is a path that leads them to prison.

"That's really, really a struggle for me to see that," Horton said.

Horton said that's why he shares the same quote with everyone.

"Your situation is not your destination," he said. "But if you don't change your association, you won't get out of your situation. You'll never make it to your destination."

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