RESOLUTION NO. _______, SERIES 2017
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A RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT EXPRESSES NO CONFIDENCE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF LMPD CHIEF STEVE CONRAD.
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Sponsored By: Council Members james, engEL, leet AND BRYANT HAMILTON
WHEREAS, the Legislative Council of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (“Council”) believes the number one priority of Louisville Metro Government is to ensure the safety of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Council unfortunately believes that the time has come for a change in leadership at the Louisville Metro Police Department (“LMPD”); and
WHEREAS, the number of annual homicides reported by LMPD continues to rise, our community saw only 48 homicides in 2013 and staggeringly saw 118 homicides in 2016; and
WHEREAS, in 2017 the Louisville Metro is currently 12 homicides higher than at this point in 2016; and
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2016, LMPD Chief Steve Conrad made the choice to reorganize LMPD Divisions by eliminating Flex Platoons in each of the eight divisions in an effort to address the violent crime in our community, and stated publicly that the reorganization was his decision and one that he would be responsible and accountable for; and
WHEREAS, six months after the reorganization Chief Conrad reported to the Council that crime was down, except for violent crime and aggravated assaults which also increased; and
WHEREAS, the number of violent crimes occurring in our community has not decreased and as a community we continue to be saddled with Chief Conrad’s “wait and see” response or another reorganization effort with respect to violent crime in our community; and
WHEREAS, Chief Conrad has lacked transparency when the Council has expressed concerns regarding decisions made regarding the safety of this community; and
WHEREAS, the Council has consistently provided whatever financial resources Chief Conrad has requested and even provided him more; and
WHEREAS, it was the Council that pushed Chief Conrad to be forward thinking in the use of Shotspotter as another tool in the tool box; and
WHEREAS, it has taken the Council several years to get an admission from Chief Conrad that Louisville has a gang problem and that this gang problem could be a driving force in a number of the violent crime issues in our community; and
WHEREAS, it has caused the Council great concern that it was only after allegations against multiple officers working in the LMPD Youth Explorer program were made public that any administrative action was taken; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the Fraternal Order of Police issued their own vote of no confidence in Chief Conrad and the Council believes that his leadership has become ineffective in leading the men and women of the LMPD; and
WHEREAS, we believe that the overall morale within the LMPD is at an all-time low due to the lack of strong leadership heading the department, and LMPD officers are limited in doing the job they have been trained to do; and
WHEREAS, the Council has lost confidence in Chief Conrad’s ability to lead the LMPD.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT (“COUNCIL”) AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: The Council with this Resolution expresses a vote of NO CONFIDENCE in the leadership of LMPD Chief Steve Conrad.
SECTION II: The Council urges Mayor Greg Fisher to ask for Chief Conrad’s resignation and open the selection process for a new LMPD Chief that can lead the men and women of the LMPD with confidence, experience, transparency and forward thinking.
SECTION III: The Council believes that every Louisville Metro Citizen has the right to feel safe in his/her own neighborhood.
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_______________________________ H. Stephen Ott Metro Council Clerk |
_____________________________ David Yates President of the Council |
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_____________________________ Greg Fischer Mayor |
_____________________________ Approval Date |
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
Michael J. O’Connell
Jefferson County Attorney
BY: ____________________________