Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel resigns

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel resigned from her post Tuesday, the mayor announced. Less than two weeks earlier, she was placed on leave over her handling of internal sexual harassment allegations.

During a press conference Tuesday, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that he accepted Gwinn-Villaroel’s resignation that morning, but would not say whether he had asked her to resign or whether he would have fired her if she had not. Paul Humphrey, who has led the department as acting chief since her suspension, will lead the department as interim chief.

Greenberg said Humphrey understands that “for this department to move forward, it is necessary to continue to make improvements, continue to fight crime and continue to strengthen relationships with the entire community.”

There is currently no search for a permanent chief, Greenberg said, adding that LMPD’s priorities should be improving its anti-sexual harassment measures, its fight against violent crime and its settlement negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Gwinn-Villaroel’s resignation followed the release of a recording that appeared to document her promoting a faculty major – Brian Kuriger – to a senior position less than a minute after her colleague Shannon Lauder said he had “sexually harassed and assaulted” her. Greenberg said the investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Allegations of sexual harassment within the police

Since her suspension, two other police officers, Sergeant Lauren Carby and Officer Christine Silk, have filed lawsuits against Louisville Metro Police alleging sexual harassment within the department. Carby filed her lawsuit last week, accusing Lt. Jeff Lauder of soliciting her for sex at a pool party in 2020 with the encouragement of his wife, Maj. Shannon Lauder.

In a separate lawsuit, Silk claimed she was sexually harassed by two male police officers, one of whom was Justin LeMon, her training officer, who sent her unwanted photos of his genitals after she rejected his romantic advances.

LeMon was placed on administrative leave earlier this year pending the outcome of an internal investigation. On Tuesday, Greenberg said Shannon Lauder and Jeff Lauder were placed on administrative leave along with Kuriger.

Sara Collins, an attorney representing both Carby and Silk, said she was “pleased to learn that initial steps are being taken to address cases of sexual harassment and misconduct within the LMPD.”

In a statement, Shannon Lauder’s attorney Jared Smith said it was “deeply disheartening to learn of the LMPD’s decision to suspend my clients. … In the face of ongoing scrutiny and the urgent need for accountability, it appears that the LMPD is attempting to silence Shannon Lauder, the very person who dared to speak out and shed light on the toxic culture that prevails at LMPD.”

Ryan Nichols, president of the River City Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents LMPD officers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Interim police chief: Department must undergo cultural change

At Tuesday’s press conference, Greenberg also announced “immediate changes to LMPD’s sexual harassment policies and procedures,” including a clearer definition of “sexual harassment,” new ways to report sexual harassment and mandatory training.

Addressing current LMPD officers, Greenberg said, “I am deeply grateful for your public service and appreciate your dedication and professionalism. And I am sorry that some of your colleagues have made your job more difficult.”

Humphrey said the department needs to undergo a culture change.

“We need to do a better job of creating a culture within our police department and our community where we hold each other accountable and improve every day,” he said.

In the recorded meeting with Gwinn-Villaroel, neither Humphrey nor any other officer commented after Shannon Lauder made her allegations against Kuriger. When Gwinn-Villaroel called LMPD leadership and asked if they had a problem working with other officers on the command staff, Humphrey said after the allegation, “I get along well with everybody.”

At that meeting, Gwinn-Villaroel also asked officers to resign if they could not work together with other majors.

When asked whether he or any other senior official had any obligation to intervene or respond to the allegation, Greenberg said the investigation into that meeting is ongoing.

“Based on what I know at this point, I am comfortable with my decision,” Greenberg added. “I have confidence in Chief Humphrey and I think we handled this issue in an appropriate manner.”

News in development:Sign up for the evening briefing for further updates.

Gwinn-Villaroel’s previous controversies

The Courier-Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network, called a number believed to be Gwinn-Villaroel’s after the resignation announcement. When a reporter asked to speak to the former chief, the person who answered hung up.

Gwinn-Villaroel was appointed permanent chief of the LMPD last July after a secret search by the Greenberg administration, which refused to announce the finalists for the post and required the commission that interviewed the candidates to sign nondisclosure agreements.

After his inauguration, Gwinn-Villaroel faced controversial discussions.

In January, the Courier-Journal reported that she had been suspended from the Atlanta police force for lying and attempting to gain unauthorized access to records related to a drug investigation into a relative. The revelation came shortly after the police chief was criticized in Louisville last November for giving false testimony in a civil case.

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