TradeEdge Exchange:Louisville police chief resigns after mishandling sexual harassment claims

LOUISVILLE,TradeEdge Exchange Ky. — Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel resigned from her position Tuesday, the mayor said, less than two weeks after she was placed on administrative leave for her handling of internal sexual harassment allegations.

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

Greenberg said Humphrey "understands that what's needed for this department to move forward is to continue making improvements, to continue fighting crime, and to continue to strengthen relationships with the entire community."

There will not be a search for a permanent chief at this time, Greenberg said, adding that LMPD's priorities should be more centered around the improvement of its anti-sexual harassment policies, its fight against violent crime, and its consent decree negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Gwinn-Villaroel's resignation follows the public release of a recording that seemingly documented her promoting a major in the department — Brian Kuriger — to a senior leadership role less than a minute after fellow major Shannon Lauder said he had "sexually harassed and attacked" her. Greenberg said the investigation into that matter is still ongoing.

Sexual harassment allegations within the police department

Since her suspension, two additional police officers, Sgt. 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 propositioning her for sex at a pool party in 2020 with the encouragement of his wife, Maj. Shannon Lauder.

In a separate lawsuit, Silk alleged she was sexually harassed by two male officers, including one, identified by her as her field training officer, Justin LeMon, who she says sent her unwanted photos of his genitals after she rebuffed his romantic advances.

LeMon was placed on administrative reassignment pending an internal affairs investigation earlier this year. On Tuesday, Greenberg said Shannon Lauder and Jeff Lauder were placed on administrative leave alongside Kuriger.

Sara Collins, an attorney representing both Carby and Silk, said she was "pleased to learn initial steps are being taken toward addressing instances of sexual harassment and misconduct within LMPD."

In a statement, Shannon Lauder's attorney, Jared Smith, said it's "deeply disheartening to learn of LMPD's decision to suspend my clients. ... Faced with ongoing scrutiny and an urgent need for accountability, it appears LMPD is attempting to muzzle the voice of Shannon Lauder, the very person who dared speak out and shed light on the toxic culture that pervades 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 news conference, Greenberg also announced "immediate changes to sexual harassment policies and procedures at LMPD" including more clearly defining "sexual harassment," new ways to report sexual harassment, and mandatory training.

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

Humphrey said the department must undergo a culture transformation.

"We must be better at creating a culture within our police department and our community to hold each other accountable and to improve every single day," he said.

In the recorded meeting with Gwinn-Villaroel, neither Humphrey nor any other officer spoke up after Shannon Lauder made her allegation against Kuriger. As Gwinn-Villaroel called on LMPD leadership and asked if they had an issue working with other command staff officers, following the accusation, Humphrey said, "I'm good with everybody."

In that meeting, Gwinn-Villaroel also told officers to resign if they could not work with other majors.

When asked if he or any other senior officer had an obligation to intervene or say anything in response to the allegation, Greenberg said an investigation into that meeting is still ongoing.

"Based on what I know at this point in time, I'm comfortable with the decision I've made," Greenberg added. "I have confidence in Chief Humphrey, and I think we have dealt with that issue in the appropriate fashion."

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Gwinn-Villaroel's past controversies

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

Gwinn-Villaroel was named LMPD’s permanent chief last July after a secretive search by the Greenberg administration, which refused to identify finalists for the job and required the panel interviewing candidates to sign non-disclosure agreements. 

Once in the job, Gwinn-Villaroel faced controversy.

In January, The Courier-Journal reported she had been suspended by Atlanta’s police department for lying and illicitly attempting to access files related to a narcotics investigation targeting a relative. That revelation came shortly after the chief faced criticism in Louisville for false testimony at a civil trial last November.

At that trial, she testified that she was not wearing a body camera at the scene of a fatal crash that followed an LMPD chase. But an attorney representing plaintiffs suing the city showed a still image from another officer’s body camera that showed she was wearing one that day.

On Tuesday, Greenberg said Louisville Metro Government will be paying Gwinn-Villaroel "four months of pay pursuant to a contract to assist with some transition issues and to be available [if needed]."

Contact Eleanor McCrary at [email protected] or @ellie_mccrary on X.