Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel has stepped down from her role after being suspended from the department due to her handling of a sexual harassment claim from another police officer.
Mayor Craig Greenberg announced on Tuesday that the chief’s resignation would be effective immediately, and that acting chief Col. Paul Humphrey would take her place until a permanent chief was named for LMPD.
Greenberg said in a statement on Tuesday that Humphrey was “fully empowered to make the decisions necessary to reduce gun violence, improve public safety, manage the department, take disciplinary action and implement the policy and priority changes we agree are necessary, particularly surrounding sexual harassment and police misconduct.”
Now, the Mayor’s Office is looking for the city’s seventh permanent police chief in less than four years with Humphrey’s ascension to interim leadership within the department. Humphrey has worked with LMPD for 18 years.