Public Safety Committee Meeting – June 17, 2026
Public Safety Committee Meeting – June 17, 2026
The Louisville Metro Public Safety Committee met on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 4:02 PM in Council Chambers and virtually. Chair Dan Seum Jr. presided. The committee received an update on mid‑year crime trends and the Summer Task Force from LMPD, postponed a late‑night business security ordinance for further discussion, and unanimously advanced an ordinance aligning local secondary metals recycling rules with new state law.
Special Discussion – Mid‑Year Crime Trends & Summer Task Force
- Deputy Chief Ryan Bates reported that as of June 15, homicides and carjackings are down 30% citywide; calls for service are down 1%; self‑initiated officer runs are up 11%; citations are up 10%; arrests show no significant change. The Summer Task Force (operating May 3–October 17 in three periods, 6 PM–4 AM daily) has made 80 arrests, issued 127 citations, made 9 juvenile arrests/citations, issued 5 juvenile curfew violation citations, and towed/cited 66 vehicles in its first seven weeks. The task force focuses on downtown, waterfront, Nulu, the Highlands, and SFI areas, with rapid response to robberies, shootings, and missing children.
- Deputy Chief Emily McKinley presented crisis response data: every LMPD officer receives 40‑hour CIT training. In 2025, 4,923 calls were deflected to crisis triage workers or mobile crisis response teams (non‑police). LMPD responded to 3,235 CIT calls; 99.6% were resolved without use of taser, less‑lethal tools, or deadly force. Injuries occurred in only 0.25% of encounters. January–May 2026 data shows similar trends.
- Committee members asked about coordination with the sheriff’s department (assisting on Bardstown Road), whether numbers exclude suburban police districts (yes), the definition of “ambassador” policing (community engagement), social media monitoring (real‑time crime center), and repeat offender tracking (GVI, prohibited firearm possessor group, new Repeat Offender Initiative).
- Vice Chair Hawkins raised concerns about juvenile crowds on Bardstown Road and the waterfront, overtime limits, and the need for extended task force hours. Deputy Chief Bates noted the task force can stay later when needed and collaborates with ABC, corrections (booking vans), and youth services for juvenile transport.
Pending Legislation
O‑280‑25 – Late‑Night Business Security (Sponsored by Hawkins & Ruhe)
- Vice Chair Hawkins described the ordinance: it requires on‑site security only for businesses operating 2 AM–5 AM that have already been cited for persistent illegal activity. It defines qualified security (licensed personnel or prior law enforcement) and establishes tiered durations (12 months for serious violent, 6 months for violent, 90 days for repeated nuisance). She emphasized it is not a blanket requirement and provides consistency.
- Committee Member Bratcher requested clarification on the version under consideration. Alice Lyon (County Attorney) explained that the “trigger” version is the amendment by substitution, while V.1 is the originally filed ordinance. Clerk Sonya Harward confirmed the motion before the committee refers to V.1.
- Hawkins moved to postpone the ordinance to allow further review of suggested wording changes, seconded by Winkler. The motion carried by voice vote; the item is postponed to the next meeting.
O‑173‑26 – Secondary Metals Recycling (Sponsored by Kramer & Mulvey‑Woolridge)
- Committee Member Mulvey‑Woolridge introduced the ordinance: it amends LMCO Chapter 123 to conform with 2026 Kentucky Senate Bill 291. Three changes: (1) transaction registers must include seller’s home address (previously only phone number), (2) must include a photo of any motor vehicle used to transport metals (previously only license plate), and (3) retail purchases cannot occur outside 7 AM–7 PM (no hour limit previously).
- Alice Lyon confirmed these updates are necessary to align with state law; statewide provisions broader than Louisville’s code apply automatically.
- A motion by Hawkins, seconded by Joseph, to recommend approval passed unanimously (9‑0, with Owen absent). The ordinance was sent to the Consent Calendar for the June 25, 2026 Metro Council meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Summer Task Force briefing accepted; committee expressed support and requested continued updates.
- O‑280‑25 (late‑night security) postponed by voice vote; will return at a future meeting.
- O‑173‑26 (secondary metals recycling) recommended for approval unanimously (9‑0); forwarded to Consent Calendar.
- Meeting adjourned at 5:10 PM. Next regular committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
And you can visit libraries across the city to really connect with the pleasure of learning and discovery. We thought when we had uh ventured into an accelerator in the West End that we would be looking at traditional needs, um, technical assistance, bookkeeping, accounting, uh marketing, things of that nature. We found that there were at least eight other areas that we had to address with our small businesses. Um, we also thought we would get to wealth creation very quickly, whereby the businesses could buy the buildings um that we were repairing and putting them in. Um, we had a lot of help from Leadership Louisville, and our board, which started from Leadership Louisville, has understood that when you are repairing vacant and abandoned property and or historic properties, the level of investment is significantly more than if you're going on an open lot and just putting a new building there. And so we started looking at all of these comprehensive issues, and I just want you to know we found that not only did those businesses need the areas of traditional business capacity building, but they needed a numerous other areas. And so we are excited about the fact that some of our businesses have gone from $10,000 a month to $57,000 a month in a year, um, with the right kinds of help being brought to the table. And a lot of that was because of our congressman Morgan McGarvey getting us the SBA money. So I just want to let you all know when you get the $900,000 investment in small business, even though it sounds like a lot, it's not enough to get us over the hurdles that we're dealing with because we have numerous people all across the city, small businesses that need investment and assistance to grow their businesses. Twenty-two years ago, Louisville's four largest institutions came together to form the partnership for a green city. Today, that partnership represents 30,000 employees and reaches 135,000 students each year. I'm sure some of those students were you. The Founders Award honors individuals whose service has fundamentally shaped the partnership for a green city and advanced sustainability across Louisville. I'm honored to congratulate Louisville Metro's executive director of parks and recreation, Michelle King. Come on up, Michelle. The partnership for Green City has truly been formative in my work with Lowell Metro government. It's a do not a did, and that's what sustainability is. There is always another kilowatt to be saved. There's always another student to be reached, and there's always the opportunity for these four great partners to show leadership for our city. We continue to honor the life and legacy of Colonel John E. Aubrey, a man whose commitment to public safety and service defined more than five decades of his life. He led with integrity, steadiness, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people he served. Today we are going to dedicate the street sign. We do more than remember. We affirm that his impact will not be forgotten. We're honored to be able to dedicate this corner of the street to Colonel John E. Aubrey. It is appropriate that to call Colonel Aubrey's long tenure an example for all of us new to public office. His tenure has been an inspiration to all of us in public office at all levels and in every level of government. And I'm honored to play a small role today in honoring his legacy. He would cause us all to vibrate with his thoughts, his passion, his love for people, his love for law enforcement, his love for the job at the sheriff's office. That's a testament to all the sheriff's deputies that are standing here today. He struck a note with them all. He struck a note with you all. That's why you're here today to recognize Sheriff Aubrey. We carry him with us in everything that we do, and we exude his impression that he left upon us. Today is a big day in District One, and for the families who live along the Lees Lane corridor. We are proud to officially announce the Lee's Lane sidewalk and drainage project, a major investment in safety, infrastructure, and quality of life for this community. This project will bring new sidewalks and critical drainage improvements, replacing updated and unsafe conditions, and creating a safer, more accessible environment for residents. And I'm especially excited to say the funding for this project has been fully secured. We're spending 457,000 right here for the safety of this community. The one thing I just want to give you some facts about uh the start of the project. Lee's Lane, as most of you all know, this is Kentucky 2051. This is a state route. So we've had uh we will be partnering with KYTC to work within their right of way. We'll be getting an encroachment permit and providing any of our plans just to get their approval throughout the whole process. Uh, we've decided this is a project that we can do in house. It will actually save the project money from having to go outside to do a consultant. That savings is reflected in what can be built, what can be utilized for this project. So that that was a real win when we felt to work with the councilwoman on this project.
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