Louisville Police Chief clarifies enforcement of anti-mask ordinance after community concerns

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- After hearing concerns from the community about enforcement of an anti-mask ordinance Louisville's police chief is clarifying how the department will enforce it.

It was announced on Oct. 1 that Louisville Metro Police will begin enforcing a mask ordinance from the 1980s. Under the ordinance, wearing masks and face coverings in public is prohibited. The announcement comes after at least one of several suspects in Sunday's PRP high school shooting was reportedly wearing a mask.

The ordinance is meant to stop criminals from wearing masks to hide their identities, when they commit a crime.

LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey emphasized that the revival of the ordinance is just one part of a broader strategy to address rising crime in Louisville. He said enforcement of the ordinance will be on a case by case basis, and people who wear masks for health purposes will not be targeted.

"It is a totality of circumstances, and that is how you pull it off without profiling," Humphrey said. "It is that you have to look at all the conditions of the situation. We're not talking about every single person wearing a mask. We do have to look at the behavior of the person, what they're doing at the time, those kinds of things."

Humphrey stressed that enforcing the 40-year-old ordinance is one part of a bigger crime plan.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has already said exemptions will be made for special circumstances.

"If you're going to Boo at the Zoo, that is a current exemption," Greenberg said. "In light of COVID and what we now know from a public health concern, we believe that some other exemptions need to be made."

Greenberg said the city is working to further amend and modernize the ordinance.

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