Last 18 years have prepared Paul Humphrey to step into position of LMPD's acting chief

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Col. Paul Humphrey is the sixth person in four years to lead the Louisville Metro Police Department. His ascension into the role — the path he expected to take one day — Humphrey said the last 18 years on the force have prepared him for what's ahead.

"I think the last 24 hours I have been called a little bit of everything," Humphrey said.

Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday after Mayor Craig Greenberg became aware of how she "handled a workplace sexual harassment allegation involving LMPD officers."

Greenberg said in a late-afternoon news conference that the allegation didn't involve Gwinn-Villaroel, rather her handling of it once it was reported to her.

"This situation is especially concerning given that, just last month, the United States Department of Justice raised serious concerns about LMPD's handling of sexual misconduct allegations," Greenberg said. "I will not tolerate sexual misconduct in Louisville Metro Government, including in LMPD."

Humphrey will lead the department in an "acting chief" role, the sixth person to lead the department — on a permanent or interim basis — since June 2020. Humphrey joined LMPD in 2006 and spent several years as a 1st and 6th division officer in the Newburg and Russell neighborhoods. In 2010, he joined the SWAT team and became the commander of the team in 2017.

"After the press conference, I went to a couple of roll calls, went by a training class and spoke to officers and really tried to spend some time meeting with officers and talking to them," Humphrey said.

In August 2019, Humphrey was promoted to a major and was named director of training and recruitment. In March 2021, he was promoted to assistant chief, also taking over command of LMPD's administrative bureau.

"If you would have asked me five years ago where I'd be I probably would have told you I'd still be on the SWAT team at this point," Humphrey said.

Retired FBI agent David Beyer will lead an independent investigation into the chief's handling of the allegation, Greenberg said. 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.

Greenberg did not offer details about the sexual harassment allegations, except to say he was recently made aware of the allegations and would provide more information to Beyer.

Humphrey said he is "committed to moving the department forward" and said LMPD will cooperate with the investigation.

"Obviously violent crime here recently in the last few years, it's been at a level that's just completely unacceptable," Humphrey said. "And so we need the citizens to know that we are not going away but we're not going to falter in our effort to make sure we keep them safe."

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