Three Years After Breonna Taylor’s Death, DOJ Finds Civil Rights Violations and Discrimination Within Louisville Police Dept.

Today is the third anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s death at the hands of Louisville Metro police during a botched no-knock raid.

Shortly after her death, the US Department of Justice began an investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department and city government. Below are some findings directly from the DOJ’s press release.

‘The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government (Louisville Metro) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

Specifically, the Justice Department finds that LMPD:

-Uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and the unreasonable use of police dogs and tasers;

-Conducts searches based on invalid warrants;

-Unlawfully executes search warrants without knocking and announcing;

-Unlawfully stops, searches, detains, and arrests people during street enforcement activities, including traffic and pedestrian stops;

-Unlawfully discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities;

-Violates the rights of people engaged in protected free speech critical of policing; and

-Along with Louisville Metro, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to them in crisis.

“The Justice Department has concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that Louisville Metro and LMPD engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the constitutional rights of the residents of Louisville — including by using excessive force, unlawfully discriminating against Black people, conducting searches based on invalid warrants, and violating the rights of those engaged in protected speech critical of policing,” stated Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.’

Read the entire release here.

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