Louisville Downtown Partnership expanding ambassador program in effort to improve safety

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There will soon be more people patrolling downtown Louisville in an effort to improve safety.

Thursday, Louisville Downtown Partnership announced the expansion of its Ambassador Program, doubling the number of its ambassadors downtown from 18 to 36.

"It is critical for the health of the entire community that downtown upholds the highest standard for safety," Rebecca Fleischaker, LDP executive director, said in a news release.

Ambassadors are trained in observation, reporting, public engagement and de-escalation. They walk downtown, sometimes an average of 15 miles each day, answering questions and cleaning up sidewalks. But they also help some people feel at ease when the visit places like 4th Street.

"I absolutely adore the Ambassador Program," said Keith Maciver. "If you ever see me sitting here, you'll see me chatting to strangers and friends alike."

Maciver spends most of his afternoons on 4th Street. While he grabs a drink and catches up with friends, he often sees the ambassadors helping others.

"It's just something we need more of in the world," he said. "A friendly, smiling face that's just kind of here to make people comfortable."

Fleischaker said only a small portion of crime in Jefferson County, 4%, actually happens within the downtown limits.

"There's a perception of safety downtown, so the more uniformed official presence you have, the more people feel safe," she said Friday. "It's from Hancock to 9th Street, River to Broadway, it's a small area. It's not the Russell neighborhood, it's not NuLu."

Fleischaker said that doubling the program's size helps people feel safer on downtown streets.

"There's no having to convince people who aren't from Louisville," she said. "It's really having to convince ourselves that we have a great downtown."

The program has also expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The goal of the expansion is to help improve safety and hospitality in downtown Louisville.

"Fourth Street is a funny place after 5 o'clock," said Maciver. "It becomes a kind of party area. The expanded hours make me happy."

Additionally, some of the new ambassadors have dark gray stripes on the sides of their usual orange shirts. Those designate the ambassadors expected to get body cameras to help with de-escalation and safety.

The expansion is funded with money from Metro Government, Louisville Tourism and Humana.

"Two of the 10 additional ambassadors funded by the city will have special social outreach training," said Fleischaker. "Which means they'll be able to make referrals to homeless mental health and drug service providers, so we're making sure they're connected with LMPD (Louisville Metro Police Department) and those service providers."

Metro Government previously allocated $800,000 for a new Safety Ambassador team, made up of eight Safety Ambassadors and two Outreach Ambassadors to increase "the number of eyes, ears, and feet on downtown streets" and "allow ambassadors to be more assertive where necessary to dissuade public disturbances and negative street behavior."

The Downtown Louisville Ambassador Program was formed in 1995. Ambassadors also serve as "safety escorts" for visitors, employees and residents who may feel unsafe walking to their vehicle, bus stop or other destination.

For more information about the ambassador program, click here.