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District 7 Resident,
By now I am sure that you have heard about or read my comments regarding, Louisville Metro Police Chief, Steve Conrad. These comments were made after much reflection and consideration. Change is often difficult, but sometimes change is necessary. I feel now is the time to voice my belief that this community seek such a change.
We will not be able to police our way out of the problems we face, and we will ALL play a role in getting our city out of this position. The problems we face as a community are multifaceted – but new leadership at the top of LMPD is one of the first things we can do. I believe that Steve Conrad has been rendered ineffective by Mayor Fischer’s agenda that avoids having an open and honest dialogue about the public safety issues we face as a community.
Addressing crime requires leadership, innovation and all of us working together. No matter who leads the LMPD or any other Metro Department that addresses issues like crime, addiction or poverty this community needs to see visionary approaches and a willingness to try something new. I stand ready to do just that.
Below is the statement I issued yesterday regarding Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad. As always, it is a pleasure to serve as your Metro Council Representative.
Thanks,
 Statement from Louisville Metro Councilwoman Angela Leet, District 7
“Yesterday I participated in a meeting of the Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee. The meeting was focused on the number of police officers and the needs of the department. Instead of having a productive conversation on what the department needs and how we can harness the resources of Metro Government to meet those needs, we were told that we don’t need additional training resources, that our crime rate is going in the right direction and that the chief wouldn’t share his opinion as to what size his police force should be.
To my knowledge, since the first day of Metro, the Police Department has received every single budget dollar submitted in the Mayor’s Budget. In each year the Council has asked the Chief if the department was in need of additional staffing or resources and in each they were told that they had the resources they needed to protect our community.
In the past year, the rate of homicides/murders as well as the number of shootings has skyrocketed. Last year ended with a record number of murders. increasing to 126 from the previous record of 85 in the prior year and 58 in 2014. In addition the council pushed for innovation on tools like Shotspotter, while the department seemed uninterested. The Metro Council allocated every dollar the administration requested for overtime, despite the Chief acknowledging that he didn’t have a plan for its use. We quickly found out how true that was, when just weeks later we were told that the police department was reducing overtime because most of the money had already been spent.
Last year allegations against officers working in the Explorer program surfaced, and it wasn’t until this year that any administrative actions were taken. Finally, it was late last year that the River City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 614, the union that represents Metro Officers overwhelmingly (95%) supported a vote of no confidence in Chief Conrad and his leadership.
For months I have been asked publicly if the Chief should be replaced. For a much longer period of time, I and other leaders on the Metro Council have been pressing for change, but mindful of the fact that the hiring and firing of a chief is something only a Mayor can do. I have consistently stated my concerns, but given deference to the Mayor on personnel matters. Unfortunately today, the murders continue, the shootings continue, and the lack of leadership from the Chief continues.
Chief Conrad is a good and decent man. He has served this community for decades in a fair and honorable way and I thank him for his willingness to put his life on the line to make our city a better place. Unfortunately, I believe the time has come for a change in leadership at the Louisville Metro Police Department. I will no longer sit by and say it is the Mayor’s call and hope that action would follow. Instead, I will step out and say that I no longer have the confidence that Chief Conrad has the ability to right the ship and help direct this city and its many neighborhoods to be the safe places we all desire.
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