Police hiring, training, and disciplinary requirements in Louisville, Kentucky
| Police hiring, training, and discipline |
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| • Police collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) • Ballotpedia CBA dashboard •Reform proposals •CBA areas of inquiry and disagreement •Arguments about police collective bargaining • Index of articles about criminal justice policy |
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This page provides an overview of policies related to the hiring, training, and discipline of police officers in Louisville, Ky. It is part of an analysis of police union collective bargaining agreements and related arrangements with police unions concerning hiring, training, and disciplinary requirements in the 50 states and top 100 cities by population.
Background
Ballotpedia in 2023 examined the collective bargaining agreements, statutes, and regulatory codes governing the 50 states and the top 100 US cities by population through the lens of a series of research questions related to police hiring, training, and discipline.
Some of the hiring, training, and discipline standards for police officers not established by statutes or regulations arise from negotiations with police unions. Those negotiations are often codified in collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). Those agreements are the contracts that states and cities sign following negotiations with police unions. Some states and cities restrict collective bargaining, but may still negotiate with police unions using other methods. After negotiating with the unions, those jurisdictions sometimes establish police standards through documents including memoranda of understanding or meet and confer agreements.
Results
The tables below link to each question Ballotpedia used to analyze the states and cities and indicate how Louisville handles police hiring, training, and discipline. To see the provisions Ballotpedia used to support these results, click here.
CBA basics
| CBA basics | Results |
|---|---|
| Is there a CBA with the police union? | YES |
| Is the current CBA publicly available online? | YES |
Discipline and accountability
| Discipline and accountability | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the CBA forbid the transfer or reassignment of an officer as a form of discipline? | NO |
| Do officers have a right to request third-party arbitration for grievances, including over disciplinary actions? | YES |
Condition: Violations of the disciplinary procedure and police bill of rights are subject to the grievance/arbitration procedure; Selection: Both parties agree on an arbitrator by alternately striking names from a list of provided arbitrators; Provider: Louisville Labor Management Committee or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; Arbitrator authority: The arbitrator must limit their decision to the the issues submitted. | |
| Does the CBA contain provisions related to discipline for misconduct? | YES |
Primary discipline authority: City of Louisville, Police Department; Types: Verbal or written reprimand, suspension, demotion, dismissal; Restricted aspects: N/A; Challenge/appeal process: N/AExcept for criminal investigations, all investigations shall be concluded within 180 days of complaint or initiation of investigation, whichever is later. Metro government may have extension provided they provide reason for extension prior to the 180 days expiring. For hearings or appeals, parties shall follow KRS 67C.326(1)(h), 67C.326(2), 67C.326(3). Discipline not subject to union grievance procedure. | |
| Does the CBA explicitly allow for a state ombudsman outside particular police departments to hold law enforcement officers accountable for misconduct? | NO |
Legal limitations or provisions
| Legal limitations or provisions | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the city CBA prohibit felons from becoming law enforcement officers? | NO |
| Are there any statutes or regulations that prohibit collective bargaining with police unions? | NO |
Training and counseling
Community relations and oversight
| Community relations and oversight | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the CBA reference citizen review boards? | YES |
Board name: Civilian Review and Accountability Board No details | |
| Does the CBA have provisions related to community policing? | NO |
Investigations
| Investigations | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the CBA contain provisions related to misconduct investigations? | YES |
Mentions KRS 67C.326, Police bill of rights is governing. Lists investigative and disciplinary procedure | |
| Does the CBA require notice to officers of investigations? | YES |
Conditions: Written notice; Timeline: N/A; Content: Must include a copy of the complaint and nature of allegations. | |
| Does the CBA determine a timeline for investigations? | YES |
Timeline to launch: N/A; Timeline to conclude: 180 days, an additional 180 days requested | |
| Does the CBA contain provisions related to compensation during misconduct investigations? | YES |
Officers may be suspended without pay pending an investigation; if discipline imposed after completion of an investigation is less than termination, the time spent suspended without pay should be deemed time served towards the imposed discipline. If the discipline imposed is less than time served, "the officer shall be made whole." | |
Evidence and records
| Evidence and records | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the CBA have provisions related to the use of body-worn cameras or body-worn camera video evidence? | NO |
| Does the CBA regulate processes for retaining officer disciplinary records? | YES |
Record storage: City-specific database; Storage authority: Louisville Metro Government Human Resources; Types of records: Supervisory files; Timeline: "Documents contained in supervisory files shall not be retained after one (1) year from said documentation."; Access and use: N/A; Use in decisions: N/A | |
Qualifications and evaluation
| Qualifications and evaluation | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the CBA require performance evaluations? | YES |
References annual performance evaluations in relation to complaints and discipline | |
| Does the CBA restrict licensing procedures for law enforcement officers or departments? | NO |
Union authority
| Union authority | Results |
|---|---|
| Does the CBA limit union authority to pay and benefits issues? | NO |
| Does the CBA give the union the power to approve or disapprove new training programs for law enforcement officers? | NO |
| Does the CBA have provisions involving the union in the process for promotions, unit assignments, and transfers? | YES |
Chief shall notify union of promotional vacancy within 7 days of vacancy occurring; City and union shall meet to discuss any proposed changes to promotional process | |
See also
Footnotes
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