LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville’s police chief, suspended earlier this month over mishandling a sexual harassment claim about an officer, has resigned, Mayor Craig Greenberg said Tuesday.
Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel became the third full-time Louisville police chief to resign or be fired since 2020. The department’s leadership has had a revolving door since officers fatally shot Breonna Taylor during a botched drug raid that year.
Greenberg named Paul Humphrey, who took over as acting chief after Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended on June 12, as interim chief, the fourth interim chief since 2020. Greenberg said Humphrey would have the full powers of police chief, now that Gwinn-Villaroel has stepped aside.
The department has been thrown into turmoil in recent weeks by sexual harassment allegations. Last week, two female officers filed lawsuits alleging they were sexually harassed by fellow officers in recent years.
Greenberg said Tuesday the conduct alleged in the lawsuits was “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
“Everyone should be treated with respect by their colleagues,” Greenberg said. “And everyone has the responsibility to treat others with respect. That should be true in every workplace.”
Gwinn-Villaroel was suspended for mishandling a sexual harassment complaint brought by Maj. Shannon Lauder against a fellow police major. Lauder reported it to Gwinn-Villaroel during a May meeting of command staff, but later at that same meeting the major was promoted to lieutenant colonel by Gwinn-Villaroel. Lauder said she spoke up at the meeting after Gwinn-Villaroel asked if there were any concerns about working with other members of the command staff.
Greenberg did not elaborate Tuesday on why Gwinn-Villaroel resigned or if he asked her to leave the department.
Greenberg said sexual harassment training procedures would be improved and a department policy that harassment complaints should go through an officer’s chain of command would be amended to give officers other options for reporting those complaints. Officers found to be in violation of the sexual harassment policy could be terminated, he said.
Greenberg said there would be no active search for a new full-time chief at this time.
Gwinn-Villaroel came to Louisville from the Atlanta Police Department in 2021 alongside former Louisville Chief Erika Shields, who hired her as a deputy chief. Gwinn-Villaroel was named the full-time chief in July 2023.
Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad has announced his resignation following allegations of mishandling sexual harassment complaints within the department. The decision comes after an internal investigation revealed that several complaints of sexual harassment were not properly addressed by the department under Conrad’s leadership.
The investigation found that multiple female officers had reported instances of sexual harassment by their male colleagues, but their complaints were either ignored or downplayed by the department. In some cases, the officers who came forward with allegations were retaliated against or faced further harassment from their coworkers.
Conrad’s resignation is a significant development in a department that has been plagued by allegations of misconduct and abuse of power in recent years. The mishandling of sexual harassment complaints is just the latest in a series of scandals that have tarnished the reputation of the Louisville Police Department.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Conrad acknowledged that he had failed to properly address the issue of sexual harassment within the department and expressed regret for his handling of the situation. He also apologized to the victims of harassment and vowed to work towards creating a more inclusive and respectful work environment for all officers.
The Louisville Metro Council has called for a full investigation into the department’s handling of sexual harassment complaints and has demanded accountability for those responsible for failing to address the issue. Council members have also expressed their support for the victims of harassment and have called for measures to prevent future incidents from occurring.
The resignation of Chief Conrad is a step in the right direction towards addressing the culture of misconduct within the Louisville Police Department. It sends a clear message that harassment and abuse will not be tolerated and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
Moving forward, it is crucial that the department take concrete steps to address the systemic issues that have allowed sexual harassment to go unchecked for so long. This includes implementing better training programs, establishing clear reporting procedures, and fostering a culture of respect and accountability within the department.
Ultimately, the resignation of Chief Conrad should serve as a wake-up call for law enforcement agencies across the country to take a hard look at their own practices and policies when it comes to addressing sexual harassment and misconduct within their ranks. Only by holding those responsible accountable and creating a safe and inclusive work environment can we begin to rebuild trust and confidence in our police departments.
