What we know about allegations of misconduct and the suspension of the LMPD chief

The chief of police of the Louisville Metro Police Department has been placed on leave due to her handling of allegations of sexual misconduct. The mayor announced Wednesday, June 12, that Police Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended over a meeting in which an officer, LMPD Major Shannon Lauder, accused a male member of the command staff of sexual harassment. On Thursday, Lauder’s attorney, Jared Smith, spoke to reporters. Here’s what we know so far about the meeting, the allegations and how LMPD handled it. The meeting The allegations surfaced after a meeting of the LMPD’s command staff, Smith said. Lauder, who was sick that day, attended virtually, Smith said. By that time, she had hired Smith as her attorney and decided to record the meeting, even though she initially had no plans to make allegations during the meeting, he said. The recording begins with the police chief expressing frustration with the performance of her majors and the disunity among them. “People ask me who I’m promoting next,” Gwinn-Villaroel said. “And you know what? They grumble about it, but they don’t come to me.” When Gwinn-Villaroel discusses promotions of certain officers, she says, “Is there anyone in this command staff and in the executive branch that you can’t work with?” Lauder then makes her accusation of sexual misconduct toward another major. The chief doesn’t immediately acknowledge her complaint or end the meeting, and minutes later announces that she’s going to promote the very man Lauder just accused. Then the following exchange ensues: Gwinn-Villaroel: Major Lauder, I’ve heard your concerns and I understand that you can’t do that, and so we need to get an update on his status going forward. Lauder: Yes, ma’am. I know now is not a good time to bring this up, but I didn’t want you to say later that I didn’t bring it up. So I’m sorry I had to come out in this way.Boss: (inaudible) I heard your concerns.Lauder: Yes, ma’am. Thank you.The AllegationsIn the meeting, Lauder said, “He sexually harassed and assaulted me and I cannot work with him.”Smith declined to give details of those allegations, but said they span a four-year period.”I can’t talk about the specifics of the allegations at this time, but I will be able to talk about them shortly,” he said. Smith claims the chief mishandled Lauder’s claims. “Think about the position your officer is in right now, how that must feel in a room full of colleagues and in a room that also includes the person she claims sexually harassed her,” Smith said. The attorney said he thinks the chief should have handled things differently. “What my client is asking for is a change in leadership, a change in culture and a change in the effectiveness of the LMPD to be able to serve and protect this community,” Smith said. As for the alleged harasser, we’re told he has not been promoted and is still working in the department while the allegations are investigated. The mayor’s office said shortly after the claim was made, the LMPD hired an independent investigator to look into the matter. What the mayor said: “This situation is particularly concerning because it was only last March that the U.S. Department of Justice raised serious concerns about LMPD’s handling of allegations of sexual misconduct,” the mayor said in part Wednesday. Hear his full remarks in the player above.When we asked more about when his office learned of this and when the claim was investigated, his office issued another statement Thursday: “Shortly after the allegation of sexual harassment in the workplace was made, LMPD retained an independent investigator to look into the allegation. As the mayor said, this is a separate, independent investigation from the Beyer investigation. Due to the sensitivity of the matter and out of respect for the privacy of the individuals involved, these are the details we can provide at this time.” What happens now?Gwinn-Villaroel will be on paid leave pending the completion of an independent investigation led by former FBI agent and attorney David Beyer.Deputy Chief Paul Humphreys will serve as acting chief in the meantime.Some of the chief’s career milestonesJanuary 2, 2023: Appointed interim chiefMarch 2023: Department of Justice releases scathing report on how LMPD continually violates civil rights. City and police agree to settlement with federal government.April 10, 2023: Old National Bank shootingJuly 20, 2023: Appointed permanent chiefMay 2024: LMPD criticized for handling of Scottie Scheffler arrest and failure to turn on body camerasMay 22: LMPD criticized for handling of Scottie Scheffler arrest and failure to turn on body cameras May 2024: Meeting where sexual allegations are madeJune 12, 2024: Boss suspended, paid leave