♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE INTRODUCE YOU TO LOUISVILLE'S NEWEST CHIEF OF POLICE.

CHIEF PAUL HUMPHREY IS A LIFE LONG LOUISVILLE RESIDENT WHO JOINED LMPD AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

HE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

HIS SISTER WAS A 20-YEAR LMPD OFFICER AND SERVED AS INTERIM CHIEF IN 2020.

HIS FATHER WAS A LONG TIME CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR AND HIS MOTHER WORKED AS A LOCAL EMERGENCY DISPATCHER.

HE IS THE SIXTH CHIEF TO LEAD LMPD SINCE 2020, AND THE FIRST CHIEF, SINCE THE CITY-COUNTY MERGER, TO BE FROM LOUISVILLE AND STAY HERE FOR HIS CAREER.

THE 18-YEAR LMPD VETERAN TOOK OVER AS INTERIM CHIEF IN 2024 AFTER FORMER POLICE CHIEF JACQUELINE WAS SUSPENDED AND LATER RESIGNED FOR HER HANDLING THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

HUMPHREY WAS NAMED PERMANENT CHIEF IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR.

HIS CAREER, THOUGH, WITH LMPD BEGAN AS A PATROL OFFICER IN 2006, WHERE HE QUICKLY CLAIMED THE RANKS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE LMPD SWAT TEAM AND WAS PROMOTED TO SWAT TEAM COMMANDER IN 2017.

IN 2019, HE WAS CHOSEN TO LEAD THE LMPD TRAINING DIVISION BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT IN 2022.

THAT'S WHERE HE LED THE DEPARTMENT'S REFORM EFFORTS DURING AND AFTER A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION OF LMPD.

THE RESULT OF THAT INVESTIGATION WAS RECENTLY RELEASED.

A CONSENT DECREE FROM THE D.O.J.

OUTLINING REFORMS AND ACCOUNTABILITY MESS YOU UNDERSTAND ITS IN A COURT ENFORCEABLE ORDER.

HERE IS WHAT THE CHIEF HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> WE ARE CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT AND TALKING ABOUT SEPARATE FROM THIS DECREE.

WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF LMPD'S DEDICATED CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE POLICE OFFICERS FEEL THEY HAVE COMPETENT LEADERSHIP, THAT TRUST THEM, BELIEVE IN THEM AND IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING AND DOING THEIR JOB WELL, AND WHEN THEY FEEL THAT WAY, THEY'RE THE BEST SOURCE OF RECRUITMENT THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.

>> YOUR OFFICERS... >> OUR OFFICERS ARE GOOD.

SHE HAS MADE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE BAD.

I WOULD NOT DEFINE OUR DEPARTMENT BY ITS WORST MOMENTS.

I LIKE TO DEFINE PEOPLE BY THEIR BEST AND THE OFFICERS OF LMPD ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

THEY GO OUT THERE AND DO COURAGEOUS WORK EVERY DAY AND THEY LISTEN TO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SUCCESS OF CONSENT DECREES OVER THE YEARS, THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF LEADERSHIP NOT BECAUSE OF THE WORDS ON THE PAPER.

YOU HAVE A GROUP OF LEADERS THAT ARE SITTING OVER HERE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THE CITY AND WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS RIGHT AND IT IS GOING TO END DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER DECREES BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO DO IT.

>> LMPD CHIEF PAUL HUMPHREY JOINING US RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE HEARD JUST A LITTLE BIT THERE ABOUT THE CONSENT DECREE.

AND WHERE DOES EVERYTHING STAND WITH THAT RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL RIGHT NOW BEER WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE JUDGE TO ENTER THE DECREE FORMALLY IN THE COURT.

WE HAVE COME TO AN AGREEMENT AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS.

I THINK MOST OF THE CITY IS AWARE OF HOW LONG THIS PROCESS HAS TAKEN, AND WE ARE EXCITE TO-- WE ARE EXCITED TO GET TO THE NEXT STEP, WHATEVER THE NEXT STEP IS AS FAR AS WHAT THE JUDGE ACCEPTS OR WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNDER THE NEW ADMINISTRATION DECIDES TO DO.

WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ON THE PATH TOWARDS CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT.

SO EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT STEP AND READY TO GET TO WORK.

>> AND GET PAST THIS AND GET TO WORK.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME AND I THINK EVERYONE IS READY FOR JUST KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IS COMING NEXT.

>> YEAH AND IN THAT, WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE STRUGGLES WITH RECRUITMENT RIGHT NOW.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT YOU ARE STILL DOWN 300ISH OFFICERS?

>> WE ARE DOWN ABOUT 300 OFFICERS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS PLAGUED THE PROFESSION ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT I THINK WE HAVE A CHANGING WORKFORCE IN GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN POLICING.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS JOB, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO THIS JOB ARE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

THERE IS PROBABLY NOT A JOB WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AS MUCH FUN AND AS MUCH EXCITEMENT OUTSIDE OF MAYBE PLAYING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AS YOU CAN HAVE HERE.

SO YOU CAN LITERALLY GO FROM ONE MOMENT SITTING, BEING JUST UNCONSCIOUSLY BORED TO BEING INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE MOST EXHILARATING THINGS YOU CAN DO.

SO IT'S AN AWESOME JOB AND WE ARE WELCOME TO PEOPLE WITH GOOD CHARACTER AND GOOD WORK ETHIC TO COME ON BOARD WITH US.

>> ALONG THOSE LINES, IT'S SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO?

I MEAN YOU'VE SPENT YOUR CAREER AT LMPD.

AND AS WE HEARD, IT IS ALSO IN THE FAMILY.

>> YES.

>> BEING A PUBLIC SERVANT.

WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN POLICING START?

>> SO THIS WAS KIND OF ALWAYS IN THE BACKBROWNED FOR ME.

MY-- IN THE BACKGROUND FOR ME.

MY PLAN WAS TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL AND THEN BECOME AN OFFICER.

THINGS CHANGED AND I CAME HERE RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE RIGHT OUT OF UNDERGRAD.

I WAS A COUNSELOR AT A BOISES HOME BEFORE I GOT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT PUBLIC SERVICE OUR FAMILY VALUES REGARDLESS WHAT SHAPE THAT TAKES.

SO THIS WAS ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR ME THAT I WANTED TO EXPLORE.

>> AND I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU ARE THE FIRST-- SINCE MERGER AT LEAST-- TO BE THE CHIEF FROM-- SOMEBODY FROM LOUISVILLE, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE TO ME.

>> RIGHT.

AND JUST FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

CHIEF CONRAD WAS FROM HERE ORIGINALLY, BUT HE HAD LEFT AND COME BACK SO HE WAS THE CHIEF IN GLENDALE.

BUT YEAH, IT'S PRETTY AWESOME TO WORK WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE COME UP MY ENTIRE CAREER WITH AND BE IN THE CITY THAT I HAVE CALLED HOME MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I THINK IT PROVIDES AN ADVANTAGE IN SOME WAYS OVER BEING AN EXTERNAL CHIEF, BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE BUILT AND I KNOW WHAT THE LANDSCAPE OF BOTH THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE.

AND SO IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO NAVIGATE SOME OF THOSE TRICKY SITUATIONS WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE BUILT-IN RELATIONSHIPS AND THERE IS JUST, I THINK THERE IS A PASSION THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT THIS IS MY CITY, THIS IS MY HOME.

AND THIS IS MY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER HERE.

>> IF YOU ARE FROM LOUISVILLE, WE HAVE TO ASK WHAT HIGH SCHOOL YOU WENT TO THEN.

>> SAINT X GUY BORN THROUGH AND THROUGH.

>> YOU WENT TO U OF L AND GOING BACK TO THAT THOUGH, I READ THAT YOU MAJORED IN PSYCHOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY.

I THINK THAT IS INTERESTING.

>> EL WITH,-- WELL, BOTH STILL INTEREST ME.

I READ A LOT OF PHILOSOPHY WORKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IT IS REALLY JUST ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW PEOPLE WORK AND THIS IS A PEOPLE JOB.

AND SO I THINK IT HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL TO HAVE THAT BACKGROUND AND SO CONTINUING TO LOOK AT AND EXPLORE HOW PEOPLE WORK IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS JOB IS.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THOSE THINGS ALIGN VERY GREATLY WITH THIS PROFESSION.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT, ON THE SURFACE NOT SEEM THAT WAY.

>> YEAH, IT MAKES SENSE.

AND IT GOES BACK TO THAT RECRUITMENT AWAY, TOO, IN THAT ANYBODY CAN BE A POLICE OFFICER.

>> 100%.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THINK, WELL, IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A POLICE OFFICER YOU NEED TO MAJOR IN DRIM CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

WHATEVER YOUR BACKGROUND OR MAJOR IS, WE NEED PEOPLE WITH VARIED EXPERIENCE.

WE NEED PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD.

IF WE ONLY GET ONE TYPE OF PERSON, WE WILL ONLY GET ONE TYPE OF RESULT AND WE NEED PEOPLE THAT CAN COMMUNICATE AND PERFORM WITH IN ANY SITUATION THAT THEY MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES.

SO THAT DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO LOOK FOR AND SO JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS NOT A CRIMINAL JUSTICE MAJOR, THEY CAN STILL BE INTERESTED IN THIS JOB AND DO IT VERY WELL.

>> I SAY ANYBODY CAN BE A POLICE OFFICER BUT IT DOES TAKE SOME HEROIC QUALITIES.

WHAT ARE SOME QUALITIES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE?

>> IT IS DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SERVICE PROFESSIONS.

YOU CAN GO BE A COUNSELOR, A NURSE, A TEACHER.

BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT.

THIS IS A UNIQUE SERVICE PROFESSION WHERE WE ARE GIVEN THIS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION.

AND IN THAT, WE ALSO HAVE THIS AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

AND SO THAT COMES WITH A GREAT LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

AND IT ALSO COMES WITH DOING ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ALL OF THOSE OTHER PROFESSIONS DO IN AN UNCONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.

AND SO THAT IS THE FUN AND THE EXHILARATION OF IT.

WE SHOULDN'T HIDE FROM THE FACT THAT THIS JOB GETS REALLY CRAZY SOMETIMES AND THAT'S THE FUN PART ABOUT IT.

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN IN A FOOT CHASE WITH A GUY WITH A GUN, YOU DON'T FORGET IT.

IT'S AWESOME.

AND THAT MIGHT SOUND CRAZE TOE SAY BUT IT'S-- CRAZY TO SAY BUT IT'S FUN.

YOU SIGN UP TO HAVE THE SET OF SKILLS THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS; SO THAT YOU CAN USE THOSE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE ALL TALK ABOUT PROTECTING AND SERVING.

AND WILL PEOPLE PROTECT AND SERVE.

BUT THE WAY THAT WE PROTECT AND SERVE IS TO GO OUT HERE AND GET IN FOOT CHASES WITH BAD GUYS.

WE MAKE SURE WE PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THOSE WHO WOULD PREY ON THEM.

>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RISING THROUGH THE RANKS OF LMPD.

YOU STARTED AS A PATROL OFFICER AND THEN DID MANY DIFFERENT JOBS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

>> SO I WAS IN PATROL OUT IN NEWBERG PRESTON HIGHWAY AREA AND MOVED TO PATROL AND THEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UNIT.

I WORKED AT THE MANOR FOR MANY YEARS.

SPENT NINE AND A HALF YEARS ON THE SWAT TEAM, WAS PART OF THE TRANSITION OVER TO A FULL-TIME SWAT TEAM.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING, REWARDING PART OF MY CAREER WAS THAT NINE PLUS YEARS I DID ON THE TEAM AND I WOULD GIVE ALMOST ANYTHING TO GET BACK TO BEING ABLE TO DO THAT TYPE OF WORK.

BUT ALSO SPENT A COME TO YEARS IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS TRAINING SO I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I THINK IT HAS HELPED ME IN THOSE DIFFERENT UNITS AND SEE HOW DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT FUNCTION AND IT GIVES ME AN UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE FEED TO BE DOING AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT BUREAU WHERE YOU HELPED CREATE THE SUMMIT WELLNESS CENTER WHICH STILL EXISTS, TO THIS DAY.

TELL US WHAT THAT IS ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POLICE REFORM, I THINK EVERYBODY THINKS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT POLICIES CAN WE PUT IN PLACE AND HOW CAN WE DISCIPLINE OFFICERS.

THIS IS NO THE WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

THIS IS ABOUT HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICERS.

AND PART OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL WANTED WHEN I WAS COMING UP IN THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT OFFICERS NEED IS TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM.

AND KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE INVESTED IN THEIR SUCCESS AND SO WE WANTED TO FRONT LOAD THAT AS PART OF OUR REFORM PROCESS QUOTE UNQUOTE.

AND SO I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.

I MIGHT HAVE PUT THE IDEA OUT THERE, BUT THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE LIKE REBECCA FROM THE POLICE FOUNDATION AND SO MANY DONORS AND MAJOR BRIAN AIDLAN WHO HAD AN IDEA AND THEY TOOK IT AND RAN WITH IT AND FRANKLY IT TURNED INTO SOMETHING I DON'T THINK ANY OF US EVER ENVISIONED THAT IS JUST A NATIONAL MODEL FOR HOW WE DO WELLNESS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EMPLOYEES.

>> AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE YOU FOCUS ON PHYSICAL WELLNESS, BUT MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.

>> YEAH, SO WE TALK ABOUT OUR FIVE PILLARS OF WELLNESS.

PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL, FINANCIAL MENTAL AND IT IS ALL BUILT INTO OUR WELLNESS CENTER.

WE HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES, PHYSICAL THERAPY, A CHAPLAIN THAT IS FULL TIME ON SITE ALONG WITH PEER SUPPORT AND SO YOU CAN GET ALL OF THAT STUFF THERE AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT IT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR OFF DAYS FOR INJURIES, WE DECREASED OUR NUMBER OF OFF DAYS BY 700 LAST YEAR EVEN THOUGH OUR INJURY CLAIMS WENT UP.

THAT MEANS THAT OFFICERS ARE REPORTING THEIR INJURIES WHEN THEY GET THEM ON DUTY AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING THE CARE AND TREATMENT THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO WORK.

>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET, TOO, THAT POLICE OFFICERS ARE PEOPLE.

THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT MEANS THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AS UP.

>> WELL, AND OUR JOB AS POLICE OFFICERS ARE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE AND SO OUR JOB AS LEADERSHIP IS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

AND SO THAT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT THOSE THINGS IN PLACE SO THAT OFFICERS HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THEIR JOB WELL.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT IT.

THE ANALOGY I USE OFTEN IS HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE THE COFFEE MUG THAT SAYS DON'T TALK TO ME UNTIL I HAVE MY COFFEE, RIGHT?

IF GETTING YOUR MORNING CAFFEINE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU BEING A JERK AND NOT, THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE EXPOSED TO.

THINK ABOUT THE BAD BACK, MESSED UP KNEES, THE TRAUMA THAT WE EXPERIENCE.

AND WE CARRY THAT WITH US IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OFFICERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS SO THAT THEY CAN BRING THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES INTO WHATEVER ENCOUNTERS THEY HAVE WITH THE PUBLIC AND ULTIMATELY, THAT LEADS TO US DOING A BETTER JOB OF SERVING THE PUBLIC.

>> SPEAKING OF RESOURCES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE CITY AND THE STATE CAN HELP IN THAT WAY.

I KNOW THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE AT A STATE DID LEVEL THAT WOULD HELP THE DEPARTMENT.

WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS WAYS THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING WHETHER IT'S AT STATE LAW OR STATE FUNDING FOR HOW TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND I KNOW ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR RIGHT NOW IS WE NEED AN APPROPRIATE PLACE TO TRAIN POLICE OFFICERS.

WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO DRIVE CARS, RIGHT?

WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO SHOOT THAT IS QUALITY AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE CLASSROOM SPACE.

AND SO WE HAVE BEEN GETTING BY ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AND THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE HAVING SOME OF THE BACKGROUND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE ABOUT IS HOW TO FIND LAND AND HOW TO DEVELOP IT AND FUND IT.

AND THAT COULD BE A RESOURCE TO THE REGION, NOT JUST FOR LMPD.

BUT OTHERWISE, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DIFFICULTIES THAT WE FACE OUT HERE.

WHETHER IT COMES FROM REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT ARE BACK OUT ON THE STREET THAT NONE OF US THINK SHOULD BE ON THE STREET AND HARMING THE PUBLIC.

HOW WE DEAL WITH JUVENILES IS A HUGE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

JUVENILE CRIME IS AT A LEVEL THAT NONE OF US FIND TO BE ACCEPTABLE AND WE NEED TO FIND SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO DEAL WITH JUVENILES BEFORE THEY GET TO LMPD BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TO RAISE YOUR KIDS FOR YOU, IT'S GOING TO BE-- IT'S GOING HAVE NEGLECT-- IT'S GOING TO HAVE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES F. WE CAN FIND WAYS TO KEEP JUVENILES OUT OF THE JUVENILE SYSTEM WHICH MEANS KEEPING THEM FROM COMMITTING THE CRIMES IN THE FIRST PLACE, NOT LET THEM COMMIT THE CRIMES AND LET THEM OUT SO THEY'RE NOT IN THE SYSTEM, WE NEED TO POUR EVERY RESOURCE WE CAN INTO THAT BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A 15 OR 16-YEAR-OLD OUT HERE SHOOTING PEOPLE, THEY'RE A LOST SOUL.

AND SO WE WANT-- WE NEED SOME KIND OF RESOURCE TO GET TO THOSE KIDS BEFORE THEY GET TO US.

>> WHAT DOES AT THAT TIME LOOK LIKE?

-- WHAT DOES AT THAT TIME LOOK LIKE-- WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE.

>> COLLABORATION ACROSS THE AISLE, COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES.

THIS IS NOT-- EVERYONE WANTS THESE ONE-PARTY SOLUTIONS AND BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO POINT BLAME.

BUT THIS IS NOT A ONE AGENCY PROBLEM.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM.

IT'S A GOVERNMENT PROBLEM.

IT'S A FAMILY PROBLEM.

IT'S A SCHOOL SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH PART OF THIS DO WE OWN, AND WHICH PART OF THIS CAN WE FIX IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTFUL OVER TIME.

>> ANOTHER THING AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED WAS THE PENSIONS AND BEING ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICERS.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE LACK OF A DEFUND BENEFIT PENSION SYSTEM, WHICH I CAME UP WITH, AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I CAME HERE.

I HAD THE OPTION TO GO FEDERAL WHEN I WAS FAIRLY NEW, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT IT AND SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?

I KNOW THAT THIS PROFESSION IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ME AND I KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO GET AT THE END OF IT.

THAT IS A HUGE FACTOR FOR A YOUNG PERSON WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND FINANCES THE WAY THAT MAYBE YOU DO 15 OR 20 YEARS INTO YOUR CAREER.

AND SO BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO THAT BENEFIT PENSION SYSTEM WOULD BE AN AMAZING BOON TO GET OFFICERS THROUGH THE DOOR, I BELIEVE.

>> YOU HAVE WORKED UNDER A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHIEFS.

I'M CURIOUS HOW YOU FEEL YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER CHIEFS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED UNDER.

>> WELL, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER, YOU CAN TAKE FROM EVERYONE AROUND YOU, AND I THINK ALL THE CHIEFS THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR HAVE HAD GREAT QUALITIES THAT I'VE TRIED TO TAKE AND INCORPORATE INTO MY LEADERSHIP STYLE AND MY PERSONALITY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS JUST BE VERY FRANK AND SPEAK THE TRUTH.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS A POLITICIAN SITTING IN MY SEAT.

THAT'S WHY I'M NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

I'M HERE TO HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A 24-YEAR-OLD KID RIDING LATE WATCH IN A PATROL CAR AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS OF METRO COUNCIL ARE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE ARE.

AND THEN BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THOSE TO PEOPLE AND JUST SPEAK TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON.

AND ALSO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IS WHERE ARE WE GOING AS AN AGENCY?

I THINK EVERYBODY, THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED.

AND I THINK PART OF WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT WE TRY TO SOLVE THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES AT THE DETRIMENT OF THE LONG-TERM FUNCTIONING OF THE AGENCY AND THE CITY AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HOW WE SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR VALUES TO REACH THE GOALS THAT WE WANT.

AND AS OPPOSED TO WE SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS AND WE JUST MOVE TO THE NEXT PROBLEM, WHICH IS VERY EASY TO DO, RIGHT?

YOU LOOK AT THE PROBLEM IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE AND THERE ARE SEVEN OTHERS COMING AT YOU AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S VERY EASY TO PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN AND FOCUS ON THOSE.

WHEN, IN FACT, YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR HEAD ABOVE THE FRAY SO YOU CAN SEE THE HORIZON IN THE DISTANCE AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE SOLVING THOSE PROBLEMS IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR VALUES TO GET TO WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

AND WHEN YOU SUPPORT OFFICERS AND YOU ARE HONEST ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, I THINK PEOPLE CAN GET BEHIND THAT WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD.

YOU DON'T NEED TO AGREE WITH ME.

BUT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M SPEAKING THE TRUTH AS I KNOW IT.

>> AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A LONG-TERM VISION FOR BEING IN THIS ROLE.

DO YOU?

>> WELL, I HOPE WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE EIGHTH CHIEF IN FIVE YEARS.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I LEAVE THIS SPOT, THAT THIS CITY LOOKS AT LMPD AND SAYS, THAT IS A PROFESSIONAL AGENCY THAT IS SELF CORRECTING, THAT HAS A VISION OF HOW THEY TAKE CARE OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT MEANS THAT THEY LOOK AT HOW THEY DO THINGS AND THEIR CONSTANTLY WORKING ON IMPROVING AND SERVING THE PUBLIC BETTER AND THAT THE OFFICERS HERE ARE PROUD TO DO THIS JOB.

I THINK THAT IS A HUGE PART OF IT.

WHEN YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DO.

WHEN YOU ARE PROUD ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, YOU DO IT BETTER.

AND I THINK THE OFFICERS HERE DESERVE THAT AND THE COMMUNITY DESERVES FOR OFFICERS TO PERFORM THAT WAY.

AND SO THAT'S OUR GOAL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I LEAVE HERE, THIS IS AN AGENCY THAT EVERYONE LOOKS AT AND SAYS I WANT TO BE THERE.

WHETHER IT'S IN MY SEAT OR A BRAND NEW OFFICER COMING THROUGH RECRUIT SCHOOL, PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING TO GET THROUGH THE DOOR.

AND SO-- YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A JOB THAT CAN BE DONE ALONE.

THIS IS A JOB WHERE WE HAVE TO WORK AS A TEAM, BOTH INTERNALLY AND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM WITH THE COMMAND STAFF AND EXECUTIVE STAFF AND WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE OUT THERE ON THE STREET WILLING TO DO THIS JOB EVERY DAY.

IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

>> BUT WE HAVE HEARD THOUGH SIMILAR THINGS FROM OTHER CHIEFS IN THE PAST WHO COME AND GO AND LEAVE AND WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, IELINGS DIFFERENT BECAUSE-- IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE I'M HERE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN THIS SEAT.

ONE, I CAN'T LEAVE.

I'M NOT ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE.

SO I CAN'T JUST WALK OUT THE DOOR IF I CHOOSE.

AND THE THING IS IS THAT IF I'M NOT DOING MY JOB WELL ENOUGH, I DESERVE TO BE LET GO, TOO.

AND SO THE COMMUNITY WILL MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE MAYOR, THE ADMINISTRATION THAT I'M NOT DOING MY JOB WELL ENOUGH AND THEY'LL GET RID OF ME AND THAT'S THE THING.

I HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THIS JOB DONE AND WE ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE WELL AND THAT'S NOT CONFIDENCE IN ME.

THAT'S CONFIDENCE IN ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

I BELIEVE IN THEM THEY'RE GOOD.

AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO BE TOLD THAT YOU ARE GOOD AND YOU LIVE UP TO THAT EXPECTATIONS AND SO I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THIS IS GOING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ADD SMRGS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS BEING HERE.

>> AND WHEN YOU WERE A PATROL OFFICER OR EVEN IN THE SWAT TEAM WHERE IT WAS BEING CHIEF ON YOUR RADAR, WAS THAT A GOAL OF YOURS?

>> I WOULD NOT SAY THAT, AS A 24 OR 25-YEAR-OLD, I WASN'T THINKING THAT AT 40 OR 41 I WAS GOING TO BE CHIEF.

THIS IS ALL MY CAREER HAS-- I TALK ABOUT FAILING UP I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO FAIL UP MUMENT PAT-- MULTIPLE TIMES MEANING HAVE I MADE MISTAKES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN STEPPING STONES TO THE NEXT SUCCESS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS WE GET DOWN ON OURSELVES AND START TO REEL THINGS BACK BUT THE MOMENT THAT YOU FAIL IS THE MOMENT THAT YOU SHOULD BE MOST ENERGIZED BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND SO I HAVE BEEN PRETTY FORTUNATE TO HAVE PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT PUT ME IN ROOMS THAT I HAD NO BUSINESS BEING IN AND ALLOWED ME THE SPACE TO FAIL AND LEARN FROM THOSE FAILURES AND IMPROVE AND SO I CAN'T SAY THAT I NECESSARILY HAD A VISION 15 YEARS AGO THAT I WAS GOING TO BE HERE.

I COULDN'T HAVE TOLD YOU A YEAR AGO THAT I WAS GOING TO BE HERE BUT I HAVE ENDED UP HERE AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN QUITE A RIDE AND I TOLD YOU EARLIER, IT HAS BEEN SIMULTANEOUSLY BETTER AND WORSE THAN I THOUGHT AND ALL OF THE BETTER HAS OUTWEIGHED THE NEGATIVE.

>> HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY DIFFERENT AS IT IS A LOT OF IT.

I THOUGHT THE THINGS LIKE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE LONG-TERM AND NOT GETTING BOGGED DOWN BY THE PROBLEMS IN FRONT OF YOU, I THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT A LOT BETTER, BUT THAT'S WHY I HAVE THE GROUP AROUND ME THAT SAYS HEY, LET'S COME BACK TO IT OR THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE PROBLEMS AND I CAN KEEP THEM FOCUSED ON THE LONG-TERM.

AND SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT LEADERSHIP, YOU CAN READ ALL THE LEADERSHIP BOOKS, YOU CAN READ ALL THE BOOKS ABOUT POLICING, BUT PUTTING IT INTO ACTION IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT AND HAVING THOSE PEOPLE AROUND YOU IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP YOU HONEST TO WHO YOU ARE TO YOUR VALUES AND NOT LET YOU GET DISTRACTED BY THE TASKS.

THIS IS AN AMAZING JOB, AN AMAZING CAREER.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF VERY DEEP CONVERSATIONS IRONICALLY THIS WEEK ABOUT THE VALUE OF TAKING A JOB IN POLICING AND IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO THE DEBATE INTERNALLY ABOUT WHAT IS THE EFFECTIVELY THE VALUE ADDED PROPOSITION OF BEING IN THIS PROFESSION?

AND FOR ME, I SETTED IT COMES DOWN TO THIS.

THIS IS PRETTY DANG AWESOME.

I'VE GOTTEN TO DO THINGS THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED AS A LITTLE KID.

AND YOU GET TO BE IN THE ROOMS WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE AND THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES FOREVER AND THEN IT'S FUN ON TOP OF IT.

LIKE WHERE ELSE CAN YOU DO THAT.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW.

YOU CAN STREAM AND SHARE THIS EPISODE AND ALL OF OUR EPISODES ANY TIME AT KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

PLUS FOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BEHIND THE SCENES MOMENTS AND MORE ON INSTAGRAM, KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE.

HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.