Apr 15, 2024 Public Safety Committee - This is considered a Special Meeting

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ME TV WILL BE READY IN JUST A SECOND.

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[Call to Order]

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[Roll Call]

CLARK, WILL YOU READ THE VIRTUAL? UH, MEETING LANGUAGE, PLEASE. THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD SOON TO CARE. 61.826 AND COUNCIL RULE FIVE A. TODAY WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA . A PUBLIC HEARING. NO BUSINESS WILL BE CONDUCTED. CLERK PLEASE READ ITEM ONE INTO THE RECORD,

[1. ID 24-0222     Public Comments on Collective Bargaining Agreements for Police Officers, Sergeants, Captains, and Lieutenants between Louisville Metro Government and the River City Fraternal Order of Police.]

GO AHEAD AND YOU TAKE YOUR NAME, GO AHEAD AND START I WANNA SEE ONE SIGN. ONE EFFORT. ANYTHING THAT THE LNP D IS WILLING TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ITS ACTIONS AND A WILLINGNESS TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST GRAB ALL OF OUR MONEY. THE ONLY WAY THIS CONTRACT SHOULD GO DOWN IS THE EXISTING CONTRACT ROLLED OVER WITH THE COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE. WHEN THE CONSENT COMES DOWN, AND THE GOALS ARE SET. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MEET THEN THEY START WORKING ON THOSE. MEANWHILE, IF THE BUDGET COMES IN, AND IT DOES BREAK FROM THE CONSENT DECREE EXPENSES WE GO TO THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS NEW CONTRACT, AND IT SHOULD BE BROKEN INTO FOUR CONTRACTS, AND THEN IF THEY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS , WE SET THE NEXT GOALS FOR THE SECOND CONTRACT. IF THE CITY CAN AFFORD IT, WE GO TO THE NEXT CONTRACT FROM THERE. IT SHOULD BE NO OTHER WAY. JUST THIS LAST YEAR. THE POLICE CHIEF. WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. SAYING THAT SHE WAS WEARING HER BODY CAM. AND THAT'S WHY THERE WAS NO FOOTAGE. SHE WAS SHOWN HER

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OH, IT'S JUST BAD COPS. WELL, I NEED TO SEE THAT THEY'RE BEING LET GO. AND NOT HID ON THE FORCE . OK HOW CAN WE HIRE ALL THESE SERGEANTS FOR ALL THESE NEW POSITIONS AND NOT HIRE ANY NEW PATROLMEN? THEY'RE GONNA HIDE EVERYBODY, AND THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE THEIR NUMBERS UP. I DON'T NEED TO SEE REDUCED DISCIPLINE OR ANYONE INVOLVED IN SLUSHY GATE. STILL ON THE FORCE. OK, CLEAN IT UP. THEN IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY. IN FACT, I GO TO THE POLICE MERIT BOARD AND WHO DID THEY ELECT AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE. FOR THE POLICE MAYOR BOARD, THE VERY OFFICER WHO HAS AT FAULT ACCIDENTS. TWO SUSPENSIONS ONE VERBAL REPRIMAND AND HAS NOW KILLED A PEDESTRIAN WITH HIS CAR. THAT'S WHO THEY CHOSE AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE. PLEASE GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THE OVERTIME. COMMITTEE MEETING WITH THE POLICE CHIEF. THERE'S NOTHING NO INFORMATION IN THERE. AND THAT HAS BEEN CHANGED IN THE CONTRACT. AND THEN CHIEF HUMPHREY COMES OUT. AND SAYS HISTORICALLY SPEAKING. WE DO NOT LET OBSERVERS IN ON NEGOTIATION CONTRACTS FOR THE CB, A WELL, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING. THEY HAVE RAPED THEIR KIDS. THEY HAVE SHOT OUR DAUGHTERS. THEY HAVE USED POLICE EQUIPMENT TO SEXUALLY SURVEY AND STALK AND EXPLOIT THE WOMEN. PRISONERS HAVE BEEN IN HANDCUFFS HAVE BEEN SHOT. 42 TIMES. HISTORICALLY SPEAKING.

PLEASE VOTE NO AND BE COURAGEOUS AND GIVE US A CONTRACT IS WORTH IT. CLARK, CAN YOU READ THE NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE? NANCY CAVALCANTI. NANCY CAVALCANTE DISTRICT 26. FINDINGS HILLIARD TIMES AND DOJ HAVE TOLD US L MP D IS A DEPARTMENT IN CRISIS. THERE'S NO COMMUNITY TRUST FOR LNP D, A CULTURAL CHANGE IS NEEDED. STRONG LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. SUPERVISORS ARE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB. THEY NEED STRONGER AUDIT CONTROLS. THERE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES AROUND USE OF FORCE AND DEESCALATING TRAINING. L. NPD PRACTICES, BIAS POLICING. LACK OF DEPARTMENT.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS HUGE. LNPD REPEATEDLY VIOLATES THE FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BY USING EXCESSIVE FORCE ON PEOPLE WHO POSE NO THREAT. USE OF IMPROPER NECK RESTRAINTS, USE OF POLICE DOGS AND ALLOWING THEM TO BITE THE PERSON AFTER THEY SURRENDER UNREASONABLE AND UNSAFE USE OF TASERS UNNECESSARILY, THEY ESCALATE ENCOUNTERS THEY CONDUCT SEARCHES BASED ON INVALID WARRANTS USE INAPPROPRIATE STREET ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

THEY VIOLATE THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT IN THEIR RESPONSES TO PEOPLE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT LNP DS RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN RAISED DEFICIENT SUPERVISION AND ACCOUNTABILITY CONTRIBUTE TO LNP D'S LEGAL VIOLATIONS. BLACK AND BROWN CITIZENS ARE BEING TARGETED, AND THAT'S ONLY THE SHORT LIST. IN 2023. THE INTERNAL AUDIT COMMITTEE TOLD US THAT LNP D LACKED RECORD RETENTION OVERSIGHT HAS NO CONSISTENT REVIEW OF RECORDS RETAINED ARE NOT FOLLOWING PERSONNEL FILE RETENTION REQUIREMENTS AND THE RECORDS BEING RETAINED. WERE INCOMPLETE.

WE ONCE AGAIN ARE FACED WITH NEW CBS NEGOTIATED IN SECRECY WITH LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR L, NPD AND THIS ADMINISTRATION. TO BE APPROVED WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL INCREASES FOR A DEPARTMENT THAT CONTINUES TO FAIL TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CARE FOR OUR CITY. THEY CONTINUE TO INCLUDE THE CONTROVERSIAL INFORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS IN SPITE OF THE DO J'S HARSH CRITICISM, THE POLICE CHIEF HAS GIVEN INCREASED POWER OVER THEIR INTERNAL ACCOUNTABILITY IMPROVEMENT BUREAU, NOT I SAID INTERNAL SHE IS ALLOWED TO APPOINT TO POSITIONS WITHOUT POSTING AND INTERVIEWING, THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO DROP COMPLAINTS AGAINST OFFICERS IF THEY DO NOT COMPLETE THEIR INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF . I NOTE ALSO FOR YOU THAT THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE A NO LAYOFFS CLAUSE. THE METRO COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY AND THE POWER TO DO THE FOLLOWING AS OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO BE BOLD TO VOTE NO AND TO SEND THESE CONTRACTS BACK. L NPD HAS DONE NOTHING TO EARN ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND INCREASE

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TINA BURNELL. TINA BURNEL. WILLIAM STANBROUGH. WILLIAM STANBROUGH. MICHAEL CLEMONS.

MICHAEL FLEMONS. PATTY HEATH. PATTY HEATH. GREEN, TONY. TONY GREEN. THAT'S HOW YOU PUT IT, ABBY LONG. OK? HI MY NAME IS ABBY LONG. I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF DISTRICT SIX SHELBY PARK AND A MEMBER OF THE 490 PROJECT. IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THESE LABOR CONTRACTS WERE ADDED AS NEW BUSINESS WITHOUT AN ATTACHMENT. IT WAS CONVENIENTLY LEFT OFF UNTIL A CONSTITUENT CALLED TO REQUEST THEM TO REVIEW. NOW IT SEEMS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE CBS WILL MOST LIKELY BE INTRODUCED TO METRO COUNCIL THE EXACT SAME NIGHT THAT THE MAYOR'S BUDGET IS BEING PRESENTED, WHICH BARS ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS COMMITTEE GAVE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WHEN IT GAVE LESS THAN A 48 HOUR SIGN UP WINDOW. ON TOP OF THAT WE WERE EXPECTED TO READ 260 PAGE DOCUMENTS IN THE NEXT THREE DAYS . AND I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU MY COMMENTS NOW, SO I HAVEN'T SLEPT VERY MUCH. SO I ASKED THIS COMMITTEE HAVE YOU READ IT? HAVE YOU READ IT? OK? UM FORTUNATELY, THE 490 PROJECT MADE A SUMMARY OF THE MOST PROBLEMATIC PROVISIONS. WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR SINCE 2021 IN SPRING OF 23. WE SHARED THE LABOR CONTRACT CHANGES WITH THE MAYOR'S TEAM AND ASKED FOR THINGS LIKE REMOVING THE NO LAYOFFS PROVISION AND ADDING THAT METRO GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO DISCIPLINE LEXINGTON METRO RESERVES THAT RIGHT WITH THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHY DOESN'T LOUISVILLE WANT THE SAME? SORRY. I'M SHAKING. THE CBA ARE YOUR ONLY BARGAINING CHIP. IF YOU APPROVE THESE CONTRACTS, YOU ARE CONCEDING THE POWER GIVEN TO YOU AS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEMBERS. THESE CONTRACTS ARE FUNNELING MORE MONEY TO POLICE. AND MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE EQUALS LESS FOR THE REST OF OUR VITAL CITY SERVICES. EVERY YEAR. I WATCH OUR LIBRARIES, OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, PARKS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES SQUABBLE OVER LIMITED FUNDS WHEN THESE THINGS ARE PROVEN AND KNOWN TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND REDUCE VIOLENT INCIDENTS. PUBLIC SAFETY COMES FROM A HEALTHY NETWORK OF CITY SERVICES AND AMENITIES, NOT A MILITARIZED POLICE FORCE WHO WERE PAID IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECRUIT BETTER PEOPLE. YOU'RE JUST PAYING THE BAD ONES MORE. WITHOUT EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AROUND METRO GOVERNMENT'S RIGHT TO DISCIPLINE AND OTHER PROBLEMATIC CB PROVISIONS. THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE WORST OF THESE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR YOU TO DEMAND MORE ACCOUNTABILITY OUT OF THE CB? A IS A WOMAN GETTING SHOT INSIDE OF HER HOME BASED ON BOGUS TIPS. NOT ENOUGH ARE THE DOJ FINDINGS, NOT ENOUGH ARE THROWING DRINKS AT HOMELESS PEOPLE, NOT ENOUGH. IS THE $40 MILLION IN LAWSUITS FOR IN SIX YEARS BY L MP D. NOT ENOUGH. THEY ARE DRAINING OUR ACCOUNTS. I'M TIRED OF BEING TOLD THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I NOW FIVE YEAR CARNEGIE BUILDING AT FIVE YEAR VACANT CARNEGIE BUILDING. IT WAS A VIBRANT LIBRARY UNTIL THE CITY TOOK IT AWAY IN THE NINETIES, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY AND WERE GIVING IT, UM TO PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE. THE CBS WILL EAT UP OUR BUDGETS. AND WITH LNPD OVERTIME LEAVE NOTHING FOR OUR VITAL DESPERATELY NEEDED COMMUNITY FUNDS THAT WILL ACTUALLY REDUCE VIOLENCE. EXPECTING AND WAITING ON THE DOJ TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS LIKE WAITING ON THE NEIGHBOR TO CALL 911. I'M ALMOST DONE. CAN I FINISH TWO SENTENCES? THANK YOU, SWEETHEART. CHRIS TO GO IN. HOW YOU DOING? I'M CRYSTAL GWEN. AND FROM DISTRICT ONE. UM. THE POLICE ARE MY

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PETER'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, GATHERED AROUND ME AND SUPPORTED US AS WE REBUILT OUR LIVES. LOUISVILLE BECAME MY HOMETOWN AS MANY OF YOU LIFTED US UP. FOLLOWING PETER'S MURDER. I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE KINDNESS OF OUR CITY. I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THESE OFFICERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE IN SERVING OUR GREAT CITY. I LISTENED TO ONE OFFICER SOBBING AS SHE RECOUNTED PERFORMING CPR ON A BABY WHILE HIS BRO WHILE HIS MOTHER SCREAMED NEARBY. THE BABY WAS THE SAME AGE AS HER DAUGHTER. I HAVE SAT IN THE HOSPITAL WITH COUNTLESS FAMILIES WHO ARE WAITING TO HEAR IF THEIR OFFICER WILL BE COMING HOME TO THEM. THAT NIGHT. I HAVE LISTENED TO MOTHERS TELL THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN THAT DADDY CAN'T COME HOME BECAUSE HE WENT TO HEAVEN. ON PETER'S HEADSTONE. I PUT A VERSE FROM JOHN 1513. GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS. THEN HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. HOW BLESSED ARE WE THAT PEOPLE STILL CHOOSE TO STEP UP TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO RISK THEIR LIVES FOR EACH ONE OF US? OFFICERS RESPOND TO ALL OF OUR WORST DAYS AND NO ONE. I MEAN, NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THEM. I LOVE THE POLICE, AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE RED AND BLUE LIGHTS IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR. DO YOU KNOW WHO DOES WANT TO SEE THE POLICE? THE PERSON WHO'S JUST BEEN SHOT AND NEEDS AN OFFICER TO SAVE THEIR LIFE. THE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED AND IS ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE FROM HER ABUSER, THE CHILD WHO JUST WANTS TO BE PROTECTED. IN RECENT YEARS , OUR OFFICERS HAVE FACED UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND CRITICISM. YET ON APRIL 10TH OF LAST YEAR, WE WITNESSED THEIR EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY AS THEY RAN TOWARDS DANGER, RISKING EVERYTHING TO SAVE LIVES, THE LIVES OF COMPLETE STRANGERS. THIS IS LOVE AND ITS PUREST FORM. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE SUPPORT AND HONOR THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SAFEGUARDING OURS. WE MUST ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO SERVE OUR BELOVED CITY. I COMMEND THIS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND PROSPERITY OF OUR CITY. TOGETHER LET US CONTINUE TO CHAMPION. THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT US AS THEY ARE THE TRUE HEROES AMONG US. GET MORE. HI EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS KIM MOORE. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS I THINK WE NEED A HEALTHY AND WHOLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN ORDER FOR THE CITY TO CHANGE. I'M ALL ABOUT TRANSPARENCY. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE PROCESS

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WE DO YOU KNOW, MY WORK IS CENTERED AROUND GUN VIOLENCE. GV. I UM APRIL THE 20TH OF THIS YEAR I'LL BE ON THE GROUND 22 YEARS. ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF YOUNG BLACK MEN AND BOYS AS SOMEONE WHO'S IN MY 26 YEAR OF SOBRIETY WHO'S BEEN INCARCERATED AND ARRESTED BY THIS DEPARTMENT.

THIS DEPARTMENT IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS 25 YEARS AGO. YOU KNOW, I WANNA SEE CHANGE. TAKE PLACE. I WANT TO SEE GOOD OFFICERS BE COMPENSATED AND I WANT TO SEE BAD OFFICERS GONE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DO IS I WORK ON COMMUNITY BUILDING. YOU KNOW, DISTRICT FOUR IS WHERE MY OFFICE IS AT. AND SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, I DON'T CALL 911.

I CALL AN OFFICER THAT I BUILT BRIDGES WITH AND IT'S ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING TRANSPARENT. UM AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. YOU KNOW, UH, JUST LIKE L MP DS ACCOUNTABLE. SO IS THIS COMMUNITY OVER 200 YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. L MP D DIDN'T SHOOT, NOT ONE OF THOSE KIDS AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND I'LL SAY THIS AND I'LL CLOSE WE TALK ABOUT LNPD TURNING IN CORRUPT OFFICERS. I WANNA SEE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TURNING PEOPLE WHO'VE KILLED PEOPLE, TOO. AND SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND SO IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO DO WORK, AND WE WANT GOOD OFFICERS TO STAY HERE YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO COMPENSATE THEM. YOU KNOW, LOUISVILLE IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN IT'S EVER BEEN. BEING ON THE GROUND FOR 20 YEARS IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN I'VE EVER SEEN IT BEFORE. IN MY LIFE. 12 YEAR OLDS GOT WEAPONS. I WAS JUST IN BEACH OF TERRACE. 10 KIDS STANDING OUTSIDE. ALL OF THEM GOT GUNS IN THEIR POCKET WITH EXTENDED CLIPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY ON A WARM SPRING DAY WHEN WE SHOULD BE OUTSIDE, ENJOYING THE WEATHER, PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY FOR US EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY WANT TO GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. YOU KNOW I DO GV I AND I DO GV I WITH LNPD, AND I NEED LNPD IN ORDER TO DO THIS WORK. SO WHEN SOMEBODY GET SHOT HIM AT THE HOSPITAL WITH LNPD. I'M NOT BULLETPROOF, AND I DON'T WEAR BULLETPROOF VESTS. BUT WHEN I'M WITH THE OFFICERS THAT I DO GV I WITH I FEEL SAFE. I CHALLENGE YOU TO HONOR THIS CONTRACT. AND IF YOU DON'T HONOR IT, TABLE IT TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT A LATER DATE, BUT, UH, IF WE WANT THEM TO STAY, THEY NEED BETTER COMPENSATION. IF YOU WANT THE CITY TO CHANGE, IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, AND IT STARTS AT THE TOP. YOU KNOW, WE COULD HOLD L AND PD ACCOUNT OF ALL WE WANT TO BUT FROM THE MAYOR ON DOWN THE GOVERNOR, EVERYBODY'S ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY. YOU KNOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT TESTIFIED HERE, I'LL SAY THIS AND I'LL SIT DOWN.

THEY DON'T LIVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT WE KNOW. SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN WALKING DISTANCE OF MY OFFICE SO PEOPLE COULD TESTIFY. NO BUT I, I CAN ASSURE YOU SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT TESTIFIED ARE GOING HOME TO THEIR NICE, QUIET LIVES IN THE EAST END. THANK YOU. STEVE BASS. HM? THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME TODAY. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STEVE BASS, A LIFELONG RESIDENT. I'M HERE SUPPORTING THE OFFICERS OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT 100. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE FOUNDATION FOR OVER 13 YEARS. AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WE'RE AN INDEPENDENT OF METRO GOVERNMENT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. OR NON PROFIT FOUNDATION BELIEVES IN SUPPORTING THE L NPD POLICE OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE MUST HAVE COMPETITIVE WAGES TO BE SUCCESSFUL TO RETAIN OUR OFFICERS WITH WITHOUT COMPETITIVE PAY. OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRAINED BY LNPD ONLY TO BE HIRED AND PAID MORE BY NEIGHBORING POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR NOT ONLY RETAIN IT, BUT FOR RECRUITMENT. I'M HAPPY TO NOTE. THAT OFFICER MORRELL IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE THAN IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE METRO COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE POLICE FOUNDATION'S WELLNESS CENTER. THAT IS ALREADY GETTING NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR THE SERVICE. IT OFFERS AND IS BEING USED BY HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS EVERY DAY. THE SERVICES INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING , EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, PHYSICAL ENDEAVORS AND OUTLETS SUCH AS BASKETBALL COURTS AND TEAMS, AS WELL AS OTHER MEANINGFUL REHABILITATION SERVICES. WE'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE IN THE METRO COUNCIL, THE PEOPLE THAT THAT AREN'T HERE TO DATE ALSO TO STOP BY OUR FACILITY IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH BY ITSELF. WE NEED TO STOP UP. WE NEED TO STEP UP TO PROVIDE A GOOD LIVING WAGE SO OFFICERS CAN SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT HAVING TO SEEK 2ND 2ND EMPLOYMENT. THIS CONTRACT JUST MAKES GOOD COMMON SENSE OF FULFILLING THAT GOAL IN CLOSING. I HAVE A VERY SIMPLE REQUEST. PLEASE APPROVE THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATE BETWEEN FOP AND LOCAL METRO. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. TODD SPENCER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO

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UM MY BACKGROUND. I'M ONE OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M ALSO ON SEVEN BOARDS AND I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG RESIDENT IN OUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN LOCATED DOWNTOWN OR DOWNTOWN IS IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW. UM WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MORE BUSINESSES LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY. AND THE N, ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE ISSUES IN DOWNTOWN THAT WILL HELP FIX SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AS PUBLIC SAFETY. UM I RUN BUSINESSES. I'VE HIRED PEOPLE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IN TRYING TO RETAIN PEOPLE AND MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW FROM YOUR BUSINESS EXPERIENCES THAT SETTING AND COMMUNICATING A VISION, HIRING AND RETAINING TALENT AND HOLDING EMPLOYEES ACCOUNTABLE OR THE THREE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE AS BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE TO DO. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS, UH, NOT FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, BUT THINK ABOUT IT FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT WHEN IT COMES TO RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT. IT'S TOUGHER TODAY THAN IT'S EVER BEEN, AND I KNOW FIRST HAND BECAUSE I'VE HIRED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN MY CAREER. SO I JUST WANNA SHARE A FEW NUMBERS WITH YOU AND SHIFT THE THINKING JUST A LITTLE BIT. THE REALITY OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WHEN IT COMES TO HIRING TODAY IS THAT FROM A POPULATION STANDPOINT, THE MATH IS AGAINST US. THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION HAD 75.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THAT GENERATION. THERE ARE ONLY 67 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE GEN Z SEGMENT. THAT'S AN 8 MILLION. DIFFERENCE. 8 MILLION POPULATION DIFFERENCE. ALSO UM, TYPICALLY PARTICIPATION RATE IN THE LA LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE HAS BEEN 68% TODAY. IT'S 62. SO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOT JUST IN THE BUSINESS WORLD, BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE THE BEST PEOPLE TO BE OFFICERS OR TO BE FIRST RESPONDERS IS WE HAVE FEWER PEOPLE TO RECRUIT FROM. WE HAVE TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE. WE HAVE TO OFFER NOT ONLY THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, BUT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE' GOING TO RECRUIT GREAT OFFICERS, AND THAT'SHE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GREAT OFFICERS AND I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT OFFICERS THAT DO THINGS THE WRONG WAY. WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE CAN'T JUST CAST. IT'S LIKE IT'S LIKE A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, PUNISHING THE WHOLE CLASS FOR ONE KID DOING SOMETHING WRONG. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, WE HAVE OUR JOB IS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST PEOPLE. CHOOSING A CAREER IS AS MUCH AN EMOTIONAL DECISION AS IT IS A FINANCIAL ONE. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SENDING A SIGNAL TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT POLICING OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE SUPPORT THEM FOR PERFORMING THIS DEMANDING AND RISKY WORK. AND IF WE WANT IF WE WANT, AND WE'RE GOING TO DEMAND THAT LOUISVILLE HAS THE MOST QUALIFIED MOST PROFESSIONAL AND HIGHEST INTEGRITY OFFICERS, THEN LET'S INVEST TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING AND KEEPING THE BEST PEOPLE OUT THERE. SHERRY WAN. GOOD EVENING. I'M SHERRY WILLEN AND I'M THE WIFE OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE OFFICER. OVER 22 YEARS AGO, I WATCHED MY HUSBAND HOLD UP HIS RIGHT HAND AND SWEAR AN OATH TO UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH AS WELL AS TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF LOUISVILLE. I HAVE WATCHED HIM TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT PUT ON A UNIFORM, STRAP ON HIS BULLET RESISTANT VEST AND WALK OUT THE DOOR AS HE PREPARES TO PROTECT EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY. EVERY TIME HE WALKS OUT THE DOOR. I TELL HIM THE SAME THINGS. I TELL HIM. I LOVE HIM AND I ASK HIM TO BE SAFE. HE'S FOLLOWING A CALLING. THIS IS NOT JUST A JOB. HE'S FOLLOWING A CALLING TO SERVE AND PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY, AND I WILL HOPE THAT ABOUT HIM AND I ADMIRE THAT ABOUT HIM. LAST WEDNESDAY, THE CITY HONORED AND REMEMBERED THE OLD NATIONAL BANK TRAGEDY. KIND WORD SPOKEN FOR THE VICTIMS AND FOR THE POLICE, WHO RESPONDED OR IT'S LIKE, REMEMBER, HONOR AND HERO WERE USED WHEN SPEAKING OF OUR OFFICERS QUICK AND UNWAVERING RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR HELP. WE SAW THAT DAY THAT OUR OFFICERS WILL PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO SAVE LIVES, WITH LITTLE TO NO THOUGHT FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY. SO WHEN I FOUND OUT THE VERY NEXT DAY THAT THIS HEARING WAS BEING HELD THAT WE NEEDED TO BE REMINDED OF WHY SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT IN THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LNPD WAS NEEDED AND IMPORTANT. I WAS HEARTBROKEN. AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, A LITTLE FURIOUS. IF THE FACT THAT ON A DAILY BASIS THESE AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN PUT ON THEIR UNIFORM AND GO OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY WILL FACE ISN'T ENOUGH OF A REASON. NOT REALLY SURE. WHAT IS I DID, HOWEVER, DO SOME RESEARCH. ON ATTRACTING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND THE NUMBER ONE SUGGESTION ACROSS THE

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WHICH IS SAD. UM LIKE MY FRIEND JUST BECAME AN LL MP D OFFICER AND LIKE FOR HIM TO DO THAT I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I WAS JUST LIKE, OK, HE'S NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH. HE'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT, AND HE JUST STARTED BEING AN OFFICER. UM SO IF WE DO HAVE THIS INCREASED PAY. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN HIRE MORE OFFICERS, AND IT WILL BE A LOT BETTER BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE MORE PATROLLING AND EACH NEIGHBORHOOD NOT JUST THE PRESTON, UM, AREA BUT THE WEST END. WHATEVER OTHER AREA NEEDS IT. UM BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU GUYS NOTICE THE EAST END DOES HAVE A LOT OF PATROLLING. I NOTICED BECAUSE I HAVE FAMILY. OUT THERE. I GREW UP AROUND PRESTON AREA. WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH. UM RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE REQUESTED IT, WE DID GET IT. BUT IT ONLY LASTS SO LONG, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, OFFICERS DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE. UM THEY'RE SHOOTINGS CONSTANTLY GOING UP AND DOWN. GILMORE LANE PRESTON HIGHWAY, SO OBVIOUSLY, IF WE DO HAVE A PAY INCREASE THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE MORE COPS ON THE STREET, AND IT WILL HELP US OUT A LOT MORE HAVE LESS BUSINESSES CLOSE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE NEED BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE. WE NEED THOSE TAXPAYERS AND EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU. ANGELICA BAKER. ANGELICA BAKER. JOHN RAMSEY. JOHN RAMSEY.

[Adjournment Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]

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