Attorneys representing an officer in the case of Breonna Taylor’s murder says a neighborhood revitalization program pushed by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer should be blamed in her death.
Documents obtained by WAVE-TV found that Louisville’s Officer for Community Development partnered with the city’s police department on a revitalization project for the Elliott Avenue neighborhood. Records indicate the project was using a “place-based approach.”
Taylor’s family filed a lawsuit against the three officers involved in her death –– Brett Hankison, Myles Cosgrove, and Jonathan Mattingly–– that said the mayor was looking to develop that area and targeted particular homes to get rid of occupants.
“You are also undoubtedly aware that the Mayor’s Office was deeply involved in the whole operation,” Thomas Clay, a lawyer for Detective Joshua Jaynes, the officer who first got the no-knock warrant for the raid on Taylor’s apartment, wrote in a letter to Interim Police Chief Yvette Gentry.
“In fact, we believe the Mayor was directly involved in selecting this area for close scrutiny because of the drug activity being conducted at the ‘trap house’ located at 2424 Elliott Avenue, and other houses in the neighborhood which were vacant,” the letter continued.
Jaynes violated department policy when he secured the no-knock warrant, according to the findings of an investigation.
Mayor Fischer’s Office denies involvement in providing specific information on the neighborhood. The city of Louisville has purchased properties on Elliott Avenue, including the home of Taylor’s ex-boyfriend Jamarcus Glover who Jaynes reportedly got the information to raid Taylor’s apartment.
Jaynes and Cosgrove both got pre-termination letters by Gentry last week. Hankison was terminated in June and is currently facing three counts of wanton endangerment.
On Monday (January 4), court hearings were held for both officers. Gentry will determine if the terminations will be official.
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