Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and the city of Louisville have reached an agreement to reform the city’s police force after an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor and police treatment of protesters, officials said Thursday.

The consent decree, which must be approved by a judge, follows a federal investigation that found Louisville police have engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against the Black community.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the “historic consent decree” will build upon and accelerate this transformational police reform we have already begun in Louisville.” He noted that “significant improvements” have already been implemented since Taylor's death in March 2020. That includes a city law banning the use of “no-knock” warrants, which were commonly used in late-night drug raids.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was roused from her bed by police who came through the door using a battering ram after midnight on March 13, 2020. Three officers fired shots after Taylor’s boyfriend, saying he feared an intruder, shot an officer in the leg. Taylor was struck several times and died in her hallway.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, attended the announcement but said she wants to see more action, not words, by city officials.

“We have a history of putting things on paper and not moving the needle, so we have to stay on top of the situation and definitely make sure they are doing what they say they are doing,” said Palmer, who was awarded a $12 million wrongful death settlement by the city in 2020.

The city's police department has undergone a half-dozen leadership changes since Taylor's death.

The newest chief, Paul Humphrey, a longtime veteran of Louisville Police, said Thursday that the U.S. Justice officials are “not making decisions for the city of Louisville,” but he applauded the agreement with the federal government.

“I believe that having an independent monitor gives us an opportunity to have the excellence of our work confirmed for the community,” Humphrey said. “This has to be more than just words on a page. It is a promise to our officers and our professional staff that we are going to lead them and support them the right way.”

The Justice Department report released in March 2023 said the Louisville police department “discriminates against Black people in its enforcement activities,” uses excessive force and conducts searches based on invalid warrants. It also said the department violates the rights of people engaged in protests.

“This conduct harmed community members and undermined public trust in law enforcement that is essential for public safety,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who leads the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "This consent decree marks a new day for Louisville."

Once the consent decree is agreed upon, a federal officer will monitor the progress made by the city.

The agreement requires Louisville police to revise its use of force policies; ensure traffic stops and searches are constitutional and not based on race; and improve the department's response to public demonstrations that are critical of policing, among other initiatives.

The Justice Department under the Biden administration opened 12 civil rights investigations into law enforcement agencies, but this is the first that has reached a consent decree. The Justice Department and the city of Springfield, Massachusetts announced an agreement in 2022 but the investigation into that police department was opened under President Donald Trump’s first administration.

City officials in Memphis have taken a different approach, pushing against the need for a Justice Department consent decree to enact reforms in light of a federal investigation launched after Tyre Nichols’ killing that found Memphis officers routinely use unwarranted force and disproportionately target Black people. Memphis officials have not ruled eventually agreeing to a consent decree, but have said the city can make changes more effectively without committing to a binding pact.

It remains to be seen what will happen to attempts to reach such agreements between cities and the Justice Department once President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. The Justice Department under the first Trump administration curtailed the use of consent decrees, and the Republican president-elect is expected to again radically reshape the department’s priorities around civil rights.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announces that the city has reached a consent decree agreement with the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan)

Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, left, discusses the consent decree the U.S. Justice Department reached with the city of Louisville, Ky., on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dylan Lovan)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by Taylor family attorney Sam Aguiar shows Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky. (Courtesy of Taylor Family attorney Sam Aguiar via AP, File)

FILE - A ground mural depicting a portrait of Breonna Taylor is seen at Chambers Park in Annapolis, Md., July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FILE - An image of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who was fatally shot by police in her Louisville, Ky., apartment, is seen as people march to honor the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork said Thursday that he is “absolutely” confident that Ryan Day will be back as football coach in 2025.

Calls to fire the sixth-year coach rose among Ohio State fans after the Buckeyes lost to Michigan for the fourth straight year. Bjork, in an interview on 97.1 The Fan, said Day is the man for the job, regardless of how the Buckeyes perform in the College Football Playoff. They host Tennessee in a first-round game Dec. 21.

“Coach Day is awesome,” said Bjork, who came from Texas A&M to replace the retiring Gene Smith last summer. “He’s great to work with. He totally gets it. He loves being a Buckeye. So, we’re going to support him at the highest level.”

The 13-10 loss to Michigan followed by an ugly melee between the teams put the coach in a precarious spot. He and his team were booed off the field by the home fans. Bjork ended up releasing a statement expressing his support for the coach.

“The reason we had to say something after (the Michigan) game is, we’re still breathing, we’re still alive,” Bjork said. “The season’s not over. The book is not closed.”

Thanks to the playoff, Day has a chance to redeem himself with Ohio State's huge fanbase with a win against the Volunteers — and perhaps more in the 12-team tournament.

Regardless of what happens, Day will be back next year, according to Bjork.

“Coach Day and I just hit it off so well,” Bjork said. “I've been really, really impressed. Every single time I talked to him, I learn something. He's innovative. He recruits at the highest level. He's got a great staff.”

Day wouldn’t directly address his job status last weekend.

“When you first come off those types of things, there’s a lot of emotion,” he said, referring to the Michigan loss. “And then as time goes on, you’ve got to get refocused because you know what you’ve done in the past does not affect what’s going on moving forward. Everything is out in front of us.”

Failing to consistently beat Michigan is one of the few flaws in Day’s coaching record. Hired as a member of coach Urban Meyer’s staff in 2017, Day was the hand-picked successor when Meyer retired after the 2018 season. Compiling an overall 66-10 record, he is widely admired in the coaching community.

“Great respect for what he’s done in his coaching career, what he’s done there at Ohio State and the success that they’ve had year-in and year-out,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said.

Day is in trouble now because losing The Game is considered an unforgiveable sin by Buckeyes fans.

“What we have to do is this whole ‘championship or bust’ mentality, you want that as the goal, but it has to be about the process,” Bjork said. "To me, we’ve got to maybe change some conversations a little bit. I think we need to maybe just approach things a little bit differently.”

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Ohio State head coach Ryan Day reacts to a replay during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)