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Photo: Louisville Metro Council
On Tuesday, November 13th a special ceremony will pay tribute to Officer Bertha Par Whedbee, who in 1922 became the first African American female to join the Louisville Police Department.
“Officer Whedbee served the citizens of Louisville with dignity and honor,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5). “Until now, she has rested in an unmarked grave in the Louisville Cemetery and on Tuesday she will receive recognition that is long overdue.”
Councilwoman Hamilton is encouraging everyone to attend a special ceremony paying tribute to Officer Whedbee beginning at 10:00am. The ceremony will feature the Louisville Metro Police Honor Guard and the Louisville Police Pipe and Drums.
Officer Whedbee was married to Dr. Ellis Whedbee who was one of the founders of the old Red Cross Hospital. Since 1960, she and her husband have rested in an unmarked grave. Active and retired officers of the Louisville Police Community have joined other officers and citizens to erect a monument to their service.
“We owe a special thanks to all men and women who walk our streets to keep us safe. Officer Whedbee, like all the officers who have followed her, is someone to be honored for their duty and service to our community. She was a trailblazer leading the way for others,” says Hamilton.
The Louisville Cemetery is located at 1339 Poplar Level road.
For more information about the tribute to Officer Bertha Par Whedbee, contact Chuck Cooper at 502-744-1704. Cooper is a former 2nd Police Division, now retired, spearheaded the memorial tribute to the late Officer Whedbee.
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
Little ghosts and goblins will soon be out and about and they can get an early start on trick or treating when Family Fright Night gets underway on Sunday, October 28th.
Council members Barbara Sexton Smith (D-4) and Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) will join with officers of the Louisville Metro Police’s First Division for a fun night in a special Haunted House.
“This is a great event for the entire family and it’s free,” says Sexton Smith. “This is a great way to have safe Halloween fun and get to know the officers who help keep us safe year round.”
The First Division’s Family Fright Night will feature a haunted house, trick or treating, live music and is designed for children 13 and younger.
“We want to make sure everyone has a good time and stays safe during this particular holiday,” says Hamilton. “I want to encourage everyone to come out and join us.”
The event will be held at the LMPD First Division Headquarters at 416, North 29th Street from 4:00pm until 7:00pm.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
A review of theft from automobiles, stolen vehicles and burglaries in the Highlands for the third quarter of 2018 shows that 38.5% of the crimes committed (47 of 122) were easy targets because the doors were left unlocked, keys were left inside or otherwise made available to thieves, according to Councilman Brandon Coan (D-8). This is a slight increase from the second quarter of 2018, where 34.1% of crimes committed (44 of 129) were the result of unlocked homes, businesses or vehicles.
Councilman Coan strongly urges citizens to lock their vehicles and buildings and take their valuables out of their cars as part of a new campaign called #KeepLouisvilleLocked.
“The failure to lock your doors and take your valuables out of your car not only inflates the crime rate, it gives your neighborhood a reputation as an easy target which, in turn, attracts more crime,” Coan said. “Please do your part and park smart.”
Coan is partnering with the Louisville Metro Police Fifth Division, Louisville Parks and Recreation and others to reduce crime of opportunity in District 8. He tracks “unlocked” crimes in his bi-weekly newsletter and intends to report out the statistics to local media outlets and community stakeholders on a quarterly basis.
To receive District 8 eNews, go to: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-8/subscribe-s…
For more information about #KeepLouisvilleLocked, contact Councilman Coan’s office at 574-1108.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services, Louisville Fire Department (LFD) and Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) officials provided a briefing today about the city’s response to a 2-hour flash flooding event on Saturday, Sept. 8, including steps being taken to better educate the public about the dangers of flash flooding and to provide more warning for high-water incidents.
Louisville Metro Public Services Chief Doug Hamilton conveyed the city’s condolences to the family and friends of Abdinasir Siyat, a local taxi driver who drowned that night after driving his car into a flooded viaduct at 13th Street and West Oak.
“This is a tragedy, and we’re all saddened by Mr. Siyat’s death,” Chief Hamilton said, adding that some details of that incident cannot be released until a Louisville Metro Police Department death investigation is complete, in approximately 90 days.
Timeline of event
- Jody Meiman, executive director for Emergency Services, said the first call to MetroSafe 911 about Mr. Siyat came at 8:44 p.m. on Sept. 8 from his employer, Yellow Cab, which said he needed help, but was unable to provide his location. MetroSafe took Mr. Siyat’s number from Yellow Cab and unsuccessfully attempted to call him twice.
- Siyat called 911 himself, at 8:46 p.m., and told the dispatcher that he was at Dixie and Oak streets. MetroSafe dispatched Louisville Fire to Dixie and Oak; they arrived at 8:54 p.m. but found no one.
- At that same time, a passing motorist called to report a vehicle in the water at 13th and Oak. LFD was dispatched to that location, arriving at 8:56 p.m. to find a vehicle fully submerged. A swift water team entered the water at 9 p.m. but was unable to access the vehicle, and reported they could find no victims. They were cleared from the scene and sent to other rescue calls.
- Siyat was found unresponsive in his car at 10:47 p.m., after the floodwaters had receded.
Early weather reports for that weekend predicted a total of 2 to 3 inches of rain, which generally isn’t a problem for Louisville’s sewer system to handle, said MSD Operations Chief Brian Bingham. But the storm was worse than predicted and produced a record rainfall for the date – with variations throughout the county for the four-day period ending on Sept 9, from 2.36 inches in some parts to 7.91 inches in others.
Noting the unpredictability of such storms, Chief Hamilton reminded the public today of the need to take precautions around flood waters, as intense rain events can very quickly inundate an area, and not to attempt to drive through floodwaters.
In all, Louisville Fire and Suburban Fire responded to 72 water rescue calls during the two-hour rain event, including many individuals who drove into standing water and, in some cases, around barriers.
Director Meiman noted that he and his staff were in contact with the National Weather Service (NWS) throughout the day on Sept. 8 — and based on those conversations, were expecting 2-3 inches of rain through the next day. When the rain began to intensify, and Emergency Management began getting real-time impacts of the storm from the NWS and MetroSafe, officials opened the city’s Emergency Operations Center to a Level 1, which involves personnel monitoring the situation, and assisting with potential needs of agencies involved in the event. Key city officials are alerted to Level 1 status by text, which initiates a chain of communication among senior leadership, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
The decision to put the EOC on Level 1 status was made at 8:18 p.m.; the EOC was closed at 11:30 p.m., once the storm had subsided. MetroSafe was staffed throughout the event with 18 dispatchers, 10 call takers and two supervisors. MetroSafe has a combined communications system that allows personnel to see county-wide impact of any event, including agencies that are not dispatched by the city.
Next Steps
Louisville Emergency Management Services has for months been sharing a NWS video that emphasizes, “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” but Chief Hamilton and Director Meiman agreed that the number of high-water rescues from Sept. 8 indicate that additional public education is necessary. “When you have residents knowingly drive into standing water, including people who take down barriers to do so, it is clear the dangers have not been adequately conveyed,” Chief Hamilton said.
Chief Hamilton said city responders also have met and will continue meeting to review potential changes to keep the community safe during these increasingly severe natural disasters. For example:
- The city’s Public Works’ Road division is working with MSD to identify the potential standing water depth in each of 32 viaducts in our community and then paint visible marks on each, as an additional warning to keep people from driving through during a heavy rain event.
- The city will use data from MSD, the National Weather Service, Louisville Fire and MetroSafe to project potential dangerous water conditions in the steepest and deepest viaducts and establish a mechanism to trigger visible warning lights to avoid entering flooded areas.
“Public safety is our No. 1 priority, and we work on a continuous improvement model,” Chief Hamilton said. “That means we will continue to review such incidents closely to see if there are additional steps we can take to further keep our community safe.”
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
What is the latest on the Hepatitis A outbreak in Metro Louisville? Who makes sure restaurants are clean and prepare food safely? Who controls the mosquito population? Where do I go to learn about lead poisoning prevention?
The answers to those and many other questions can be heard at the next South Central Regional Forum which will focus on the work of the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness on Wednesday, August 15th.
“This forum will take a look at many of the programs the Department handles on a daily basis to keep all of us safe,” says Councilwoman Madonna Flood (D-24). “We will also hear an update on how Louisville is dealing with the recent outbreak of Hepatitis A. It’s time for everyone to be aware of what we are doing to bring this under control.”
The forum is set for the new South Central Regional Library at 7400 Jefferson Boulevard from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Councilwoman Flood says there will be information on how to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A, as well as, other health information.
Nick Hart, Environmental Health Manager of the Department has been invited to answer any and all questions about a wide range of topics. The Environmental Health Division monitors compliance and provides education and enforcement in many areas including:
- Food Safety
- Hotels/Motels
- Swimming Pools
- Lifeguard Certification
- Mobile Home Parks
- Septic and Onsite Systems
- Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention/Lead Abatement
- Mosquito Control
- Rabies control/ Animal Bites/Animal Quarantine
- Tattoo/Body Art/Piercing Studios and Certifications
- Hazmat Response
- Radon
- Smoke-Free Ordinance
- Children’s Meal Ordinance
The South Central Regional Forums are sponsored by Councilwoman Flood and Council Members James Peden (R-23), Vicki Aubrey Welch (D-13) and Barbara Shanklin (D-2).
Louisville Metro Police Department and Code Enforcement will be in attendance.
For more information about this South Central Regional Forum, contact Councilwoman Flood’s office at 574-1124.
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
Mayor Greg Fischer and Police Chief Steve Conrad are inviting the public to join in on the annual National Night Out events being held in the police divisions around Metro Louisville on Tuesday night.
This year’s theme for the event is IncLOUsive City – promoting safe neighborhoods through inclusiveness. Events will include opportunities to interact with officers, refreshments, games and public safety information.
“Making this city safer is a joint effort between police officers and the neighborhoods they patrol,” Chief Conrad said. “National Night Out is our chance each year to come together to celebrate our efforts and continuing building the relationships that make us a better city.”
From 2013 to 2017, Louisville Metro has been selected as a national award winner for its outstanding participation in the annual National Night Out events held throughout our city. The National Association of Town Watch evaluates entries based on attendance, corporate sponsorships, crime prevention collaborations between police and community members, and ongoing outreach efforts.
It is an honor for LMPD to be recognized, but the Mayor and Chief stressed that could not have been done it without every citizen who takes a stance on crime prevention in their community.
“I hope people will join me Tuesday night in stopping by one or more of our National Night Out events,” said Mayor Fischer. “This city shows over and over again how working together for safer neighborhoods pays off, so let’s use Tuesday to recommit ourselves to those efforts.”
Events will be located throughout Metro Louisville:
- 1st Division: 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Baxter Park, Baxter Community Center, 1125 Cedar Court
- 2nd Division: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Cash Saver Market, 3044 Wilson Avenue
- 3rd Division: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Home Depot, 6840 Dixie Highway
- 4th Division: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wyandotte Park, 1104 Beecher Street
- 5th Division: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Peterson-Dumesnil House, 301 S. Peterson Avenue
- 6th & 7th Divisions: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Target Okolona, 7311 Jefferson Boulevard
- 8th Division: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Target Middletown, 12975 Shelbyville Road
To learn about setting up a Neighborhood Watch program in your area, visit: https://www.louisville-police.org/454/Neighborhood-Watch
Credit: Louisville Metro Police
Former U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey’s 90-page report on allegations surrounding the Louisville Metro Police Department Explorer program found the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) made mistakes in oversight of the program and in its investigation of the allegations, but concluded there was “no ongoing, orchestrated effort to cover up misconduct.”
Mayor Greg Fischer, who ordered the Harvey investigation after learning the extent of the allegations last year, said, “As I said when I ordered this investigation, we have to get to the bottom of these disturbing allegations — for ourselves, for our citizens, for the thousands of LMPD officers who are honest, compassionate, courageous people of integrity. We need to know the truth. And, most importantly, for the victims of anyone who may have committed a crime while wearing an LMPD uniform.”
Mayor Fischer had instructed Mr. Harvey to evaluate five issues:
- A review of the internal processes, policies and procedures concerning the Explorers program;
- A review of whether any employment laws may have been violated;
- A review of whether any ethics laws may have been violated;
- The sufficiency of the checks and balances within the LMPD professional standards and public integrity components; and
- A timeline showing when information or accusations were first shown, to whom same were reported, as well as subsequent actions and whether such actions followed Metro practices and policies.
An initial review finds that the report includes background on the program, facts about the cases against former LMPD officers Brandon Wood and Kenneth Betts, and a narrative on the Harvey investigation.
It concludes, “Our review leads us to conclude that mistakes were made and policy was not rigidly followed. We also reviewed the work of many LMPD officers striving mightily to do the right thing in the right way. While we do not believe that there was, as some have asserted, a massive coverup of misconduct in the senior ranks of the LMPD, there are lessons to be learned from this episode.”
The report also includes a section on false rumors, and found the following:
- “The investigative team has confirmed that no public funds have been paid to settle any claims related to the Explorer program.” (Page 60)
- “Chief [Steve] Conrad did nothing to prematurely end or limit the 2013 PSU investigation.” (Page 60)
Regarding a rumor that the Mayor’s office interfered with the 2016 investigation, the report found, “Chief Conrad believes that he told Deputy Mayor [Ellen] Hesen about the 2013 PSU Betts investigation in late 2013 or early 2014 during one of their regular meetings.” He said he did not have a special meeting to discuss the matter with her, but “in passing” shared that there was a PSU matter involving an inappropriate text message exchange with a teenager. This occurred, he said, after subordinates told him there appeared to be no criminal conduct on Betts’ part. He said he had no discussion of this matter with Mayor Fischer. (Page 60)
“We conclude that the suggestion that Deputy Mayor Hesen, or anyone else in the Mayor’s office, demanded weekly or regularly scheduled briefings from the PIU detectives is false.” (Page 67)
The report also says that Harvey’s team interviewed Mayor Fischer twice. “Mayor Fischer learned of the Betts and Wood misconduct in October 2016. He requested and received a briefing from PIU in November 2016.” It notes that the Mayor directed an internal review into the Explorer program in March 2017, along with an FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct within the program.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The report touched on the potential for resuming the LMPD Explorer Program, but both Chief Conrad and Mayor Fischer said today that there is no plan to resume the program.
Regarding the operation of the Special Investigations Division, the report makes these recommendations:
- Conflicts of Interest: “Adopt a rigorous conflicts of interest policy for the Special Investigations Division.”
- Legal review of PSU determinations: “We recommend that a policy be implemented requiring a review by attorneys, presumably prosecutors with the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, in PSU matters involving serious allegations of misconduct.”
- Consider term-limiting assignments to the Special Investigations Division.
The report includes redactions, made by the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office and lawyers for the Mayor and the Louisville Metro Council, of content that:
- Would be in conflict to federal court orders;
- Would be in violation of state or federal statutes if released; or
- Could identify victims.
After his initial review of the report, Mayor Fischer said, “I am deeply angry about the disturbing allegations of abuse against children outlined in the report, as well as violations of the community’s trust. It is also clear that mistakes were made and must be addressed.”
The Mayor said he and his team, including Chief Conrad, would further review the report and quickly begin implementing appropriate changes.
The Mayor also noted that his office has not waited for this report to take action, including ordering a separate review of all city programs that involve children and teenagers, to ensure adequate steps are in place to protect youth. After that review was completed in March, the city announced it is expanding its internal policies to better prevent and respond to child abuse in any youth-serving program. He also, along with Council President David James, asked the FBI’s Louisville office to investigate potential violations of federal law related to the allegations. That investigation is ongoing.
Mayor Fischer thanked Mr. Harvey and his team for their work. “Our utmost goal with this report was the truth,” Mayor Fischer said. “I appreciate their diligence and hard work, which gets us one step closer to the justice.
