Louisville police chief says community input has contributed to falling homicide rate

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said Tuesday that the city is seeing a drop in homicides and nonfatal shootings because the community is stepping up.

Humphrey said officers are spending more time talking with people about problems in their neighborhoods, gives officers a chance to do the police work necessary to disrupt crime before it happens. For example, he said officers recently got out in the community to see how they can best serve.

"We just had a situation where officers were going door to door, asking residents what they need," Humphrey said Tuesday. "It turned into getting rid of a problem dope house that had been plaguing that neighborhood for months that we didn't know about. Asking what we can do launched an investigation that got dangerous people off the street."

According to LMPD data, there have been 31 criminal homicides so far in 2025 in Louisville, compared to 45 in 2024 and 55 in 2023 in the same timeframe. It's the lowest number at this point in the year since 2020.

In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday morning on WDRB in the Morning, Humphrey said LMPD is also working on recruitment efforts so there are more officers to patrol the neighborhoods.

He also touched on a few other topics, which you can read about below.

'Make sure there is accountability'

The LMPD officer being investigated for her role in a fatal crash earlier this month was reprimanded just last year for a different wreck. In October 2023, Officer Alyssa Begel had what LMPD called a minor on-duty incident when she side-swiped a concrete pillar leaving the Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Center on West Jefferson Street downtown.  

Police record said the crash caused minor damage to the passenger side of the police car and scratched paint. No one was hurt, and there was no damage to the pillar.

Earlier this month, Begel was responding to an emergency request for help from EMS when she collided with an SUV driven by a 61-year-old man. He died at the scene.

Dark video posted on LMPD's YouTube page shows the moments leading up to the crash at 8:54 p.m. as Begel responded to an emergency request for help from an EMS crew. Humphrey said investigators determined that Begel was speeding on Fern Valley Road and did not have the cruiser's lights and siren activated. 

"We take this very, very seriously," Humphrey said Tuesday. "We will deal with the facts of the investigation as we need. ... We will make sure there is accountability for anything that went wrong and we will take care of this situation, and the public will be made aware with anything that happens."

The silent video shows Begel swerving through traffic before the impact, when Begel's cruiser hit a black Cadillac that pulled onto Fern Valley Road. The driver, 61-year-old Charles Briscoe, died at the scene. 

Begel suffered serious injuries and was released from the hospital after several days. She remains on paid administrative leave pending an investigation, according to a statement from police. 

LMPD said on Thursday that it has "opened administrative and criminal investigations into the collision. Once completed, we will turn the findings over to the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for review and recommendations." 

When asked whether Begel was driving without lights and sirens, an LMPD spokesperson referred to department's critical incident policy and did not answer the question, but they later told us her emergency equipment had not been activated. 

LMPD policy states officers are exempt from certain driving regulations while responding to an emergency, but "this does not relieve officers from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons." 

Once LMPD's investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to determine if any charges should be filed.

Humphrey said Tuesday that Begel had surgery and is at home recovering after obtaining "catastrophic injuries."

'No business being a cop anymore'

Humphrey said Monday that Roberto Cedeno, the former officer arrested for allegedly stalking and harassing an ex-girlfriend, has "no business being a cop anymore."

Cedeno, 26, appeared for his arraignment Friday morning on nine charges, including stalking, illegal use of police equipment, tampering with public records and violating an interpersonal protective order.

Cedeno was arrested April 11 for violating an IPO filed March 17 by his ex-girlfriend. In the filing, the victim said she'd been "constantly followed and stalked" by Cedeno on foot, as well as in his personal and police vehicles since she broke up with him three weeks prior. Among other things, the victim said Cedeno sent her alarming messages, routinely drove by her house and took photos of her during her lunch break.

The victim also described a conversation she'd had with Cedeno in which he stated "They can't do anything to me if you do not have an order," writing "this has been going on daily for the past three plus weeks and I cannot go anywhere without being followed."

According to LMPD, a complaint was filed against Cedeno March 12 about "concerning behavior," prompting an investigation by the department's Public Integrity Unit. Humphrey had already begun the termination process for Cedeno, but the officer resigned April 8 before either could be completed. 

The day of his resignation, Cedeno went to a bar in Louisville's Shelby Park neighborhood after his ex-girlfriend posted a photo on social media, according to his arrest citation. After making eye contact with Cedeno, the victim left the bar but remained in the area, according to police. Cedeno's arrest warrant states he stayed at the bar for about two hours. He was captured on surveillance video walking around the bar and moving his vehicle to multiple locations within 500 feet of the building. Police said when the victim left the area, she drove past Cedeno's vehicle, and he began following her. 

The victim filed a police report following the incident, and Cedeno was arrested April 11 for violating the IPO. But he was released on his own recognizance the next day, according to court documents.

Days later, on April 16, a grand jury indicted Cedeno on nine felony charges, including: unlawful access to computer, stalking, tampering with public records, violation of IPO, misapplication of entrusted property, falsely reporting an incident, official misconduct, harassing communications and harassment.

Cedeno "surrendered peacefully" and was arrested on the new charges around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, LMPD said. His attorney declined to comment on the indictment. 

"This literally went from 'Hey, what's going on here?' to 'We are moving to criminal charges and termination' in a couple of days," Humphrey said Tuesday. "It was a really good job by those investigators and PIU in order to make sure we protect this female in this situation and make sure that we get this guy — who has no business being a cop anymore — off our payroll."

The former officer's bail was set at $25,000 full cash. If Cedeno bonds out, he will be put on home incarceration with an ankle monitor. His next court appearance is scheduled for May.

Top Stories:

2 Kentucky men arrested after traffic stop uncovers 9 pounds of meth on I-65, police say

New Albany woman charged with allegedly sex trafficking a child on a dating app

Man, child hospitalized after being bitten 'several times' by 2 dogs, Louisville police say

Teens jump into Ohio River to rescue driver after medical emergency at Louisville boat ramp

Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.