The Louisville Police Department's chief, Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, has stepped down from her position.
This resignation, as reported by the Daily Mail, follows a series of controversies, including the mishandling of a sexual harassment claim and the criticized handling of the case against Scottie Scheffler, the world's top golfer.
Gwinn-Villaroel's resignation comes on the heels of her suspension over the mishandling of a sexual harassment claim involving an officer. This incident has further plunged the department into chaos, already under fire for its handling of Scheffler's case. The golfer was shockingly arrested at the PGA Championship in May and charged with second-degree assault of a police officer. Gwinn-Villaroel had previously pledged "to respect the legal process" and "let it play out." However, all charges against Scheffler were subsequently dropped.
The Louisville Police Department has seen a high turnover rate in its leadership, with Gwinn-Villaroel being the third full-time police chief to either resign or be fired since 2020. This instability began after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor during a botched drug raid that year.
Recent weeks have seen the department further destabilized by sexual harassment allegations. Two female officers filed lawsuits last week, alleging sexual harassment by fellow officers. Mayor Craig Greenberg condemned the alleged conduct, stating it was "unacceptable and inexcusable." He emphasized that "everyone should be treated with respect by their colleagues" and that "everyone has the responsibility to treat others with respect."
Gwinn-Villaroel's suspension was a result of her mishandling of a complaint by Major Shannon Lauder against a fellow police major. It is alleged that Major Brian Kuriger was promoted to lieutenant colonel by Gwinn-Villaroel just a minute after being accused of sexual harassment.
Following Gwinn-Villaroel's suspension on June 12, Paul Humphrey took over as acting chief. He is now the fourth interim chief since 2020. Mayor Greenberg did not provide details on why Gwinn-Villaroel resigned or if he had asked her to leave the department.
In response to these events, Greenberg announced improvements to sexual harassment training procedures and amendments to the department policy regarding harassment complaints. The changes would provide officers with alternative avenues for reporting complaints. Officers found in violation of the sexual harassment policy could face termination.
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