By Destinee Flowers, Spectrum News 1
In May, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said it would dismiss a lawsuit against the Louisville Metro Police Department, meaning the federal consent decree aimed at reforming LMPD won’t go into effect.
The city of Louisville, in response, is continuing police reform efforts through its “Community Commitment” plan, inviting residents to voice concerns and establish an independent monitor group. The plan focuses on police accountability, transparency and community engagement.
The city held its second listening session Saturday, discussing the need for a monitor to oversee progress of reforms. The first was June 17.
“The monitor team will read policies, watch training, review paperwork such as arrest citations, watch body camera video, check data, read reports for LMPD; they will talk with the community and they will write a report to the Community Safety Commission,” said Cherie Dawson-Edwards, professor of the University of Louisville’s Department of Criminal Justice.
Those in attendance shared concerns with LMPD, as well as the qualities they would like to see in those elected. That information will be shared with the leaders of Louisville Metro and used to help make its selection this fall.
“The desired outcome is that the community got an opportunity to share with us the qualities and qualification that they want to see in an independent monitor and then that information is shared with the leaders at Metro and it’s used as consideration for the RFP,” said Vanessa McPhail, Louisville Metro’s executive director of the Office of Equity.
The RFP (request for proposal) is how qualified candidates interested in serving as independent monitor apply for the position. The decision will take place once a judge has entered their final ruling.
“The community will then have the opportunity to meet the finalists who later become the independent monitor,” McPhail said.
Kolby Canes, Louisville resident and intern with Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together, said he has high hopes for the monitor’s success.
“I really hope that this committee of independent monitor is timely with their information to the public and is willing to work with local organizations like CLOUT who have been pushing for the consent decree the whole time,” Canes said. “We have wanted to bring trauma-informed care to the city through trauma centers. There are so many other things that need to be worked on alongside this independent monitor, so I hope that all these things be done simultaneously with community support.”
The session was scheduled to end at 11:30 a.m.; however, it finished early, leaving some feeling like their voices weren’t heard.
“They have a specific agenda,” said Louisville resident Jeff Cavalante. “They’re not really listening to us; I mean, they ended it a half-hour early, the listening session. We got handed a survey right up with very specific bullet points. They wanted to direct our answers right away from the beginning.”
Even with some disappointment about how the city handled the session, those in attendance stressed the importance of the community remaining active.
“Get involved, everybody,” Cavalante said. “Read the commitments so you know what has happened and get involved. Always ask questions.”
While both listening sessions are over, residents can continue to voice their opinions and concerns through Safe Louisville’s Community Engagement – Independent Monitor Selection Survey on Louisville Metro’s website.
View the original story here.
