LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The union representing Louisville Metro Police officers is taking the department's consent decree to federal court.
Friday, the River City Fraternal Order of Police filed a motion in federal court to intervene in the case between Louisville Metro Government and the U.S. Department of Justice.Â
Union leaders said the consent decree violates the collective bargaining agreement between the FOP and Metro government, and changes the working conditions of police officers, arguing such changes must be negotiated.
"The consent decree conflicts with the collective bargaining agreement between the River City FOP and Louisville Metro Government," the RCFOP Lodge 614 said in a statement. "This decree runs afoul of language in the CBA and changes the working conditions of our members. The law requires that such changes be negotiated. It is incumbent upon the FOP to proactively attempt to avoid violations of the CBA and to ensure the best interests of our members are considered."
The federally mandated consent decree aims to address systemic issues and rebuild trust with the community through accountability and transparency.Â
The 248-page agreement between the city and federal government outlines 81 key objectives that focus on three main areas: policies, training and achieving goals set forth for issues like use of force, search warrants, traffic stops and searches, and community engagement, among other things.
The city and DOJ reached the deal earlier in December on sweeping reforms of LMPD after months of negotiations. In 2023, the DOJ concluded that police and Metro government for years engaged in practices that violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law, including excessive use of force and searches based on invalid warrants.
That conclusion came nearly two years after the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor, which prompted both local and national criticism of the police department as well as months of protests.Â
A federal judge has yet to approve the consent decree. Once approved, city leaders expect they can complete the process within five years.
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