Mayor Urges State Lawmakers to Strengthen Child Abuse Reporting Requirement

Asks General Assembly to take action before session ends

Mayor Greg Fischer today urged the General Assembly to strengthen the reporting requirement of suspected child abuse when it involves law enforcement officers or leaders.

Current Kentucky law requires anyone who suspects that a child is being abused to report it to police, the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services or the county or commonwealth’s attorney. The law does not, however, require a local police department to report to other agencies when one of its officers is suspected of child abuse.

“This state law is intended to protect our children by requiring citizens to speak up to authorities when they reasonably believe a horrible crime is being committed against a child,” Mayor Fischer said. “This legal requirement should be extended to law enforcement agencies as well when the suspicion falls on one of their own, to ensure that all due diligence is taken to protect our young people.

“I’m calling on state lawmakers to take immediate action in the upcoming final days of this legislative session.”

Last week, Mayor Fischer appointed a special investigator to investigate sex abuse allegations in the Louisville Metro Police Explorer Program, and the circumstances surrounding the allegations. The Mayor also asked the FBI to investigate potential violations of federal law surrounding the case, and ordered a city government-wide inquiry to ensure all city programs that involve youth meet national standards.