Louisville police budget request increases by $25 million amid officer shortage

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Louisville Metro Police Department is asking for $246 million in the upcoming city budget, up about $25 million from last year’s $221 million. The main reason for the increase — the persistent staffing shortage.

LMPD is still about 300 officers short, and the department’s overtime budget reflects that gap. With a minimum number of officers still needed on the streets, the city continues to lean on overtime — the equivalent cost of paying 300 officers $70,000 each per year.

Last year’s budget included big-ticket items like a $4 million helicopter, which is now nearly ready for service.

"It (the new helicopter) was getting painted and outfitted in Atlanta,” said LMPD Deputy Chief Emily McKinley said. “It should be here in the next couple of weeks."

The department sold its older helicopter and is also investing in technology, including more Flock cameras and expanded digital storage for investigative materials.

Another major line item is the cost of the new police headquarters, with some command staff expected to move in this year.

Recruitment remains a top priority for the department. Former Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel had requested $500,000 for recruitment, which included plans for a custom recruiting app, but that idea was ultimately scrapped.

"We decided to move in a different direction. It wasn’t viable for where we were going," LMPD leadership explained at the council's budget committee meeting on Thursday.

Despite hopes that more hires, tech upgrades, and civilian support could eventually reduce overtime, it remains a permanent fixture of the department’s budget.

“Yeah. So we've always had an overtime budget. We always will have an overtime budget. You know, and as we get more officers on the department and hire more officers, increase our technology, increase our civilian staff, hopefully we can see that that overtime budget, go down year after year," McKinley said.

In April, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg unveiled his $1.2 billion proposed budget. Metro Council will vote on a final version of the budget in late June.

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