The justice department is accusing the Louisville, Kentucky police of targeting vulnerable demographics. Louisville and its police department have violated the constitutional rights of its residents for years now, and especially the rights of black people. “For years, LMPD has practiced an aggressive style of policing that it deploys selectively, especially against Black people, but also against vulnerable people throughout the city,” the report, released on Wednesday. “Some officers demonstrate disrespect for the people they are sworn to protect. Some officers have videotaped themselves throwing drinks at pedestrians from their cars; insulted people with disabilities; and called Black people ‘monkeys,’ ‘animal,’ and ‘boy.’ ” 

The reports show years of failed leadership that allowed the unlawful conduct to fester. While police officers routinely stop and cite people for minor offenses, they let serious crimes, including sexual assault and homicide go unsolved. In 2020, the Louisville police raided Breonna Taylors apartment, but had no warrant- just to find out later that it was the wrong address. Months later, a similar incident happened in Minnesota where Michigan police killed George Floyd. With both happening in the same year, protests began in defense for Black people, to let them know that they aren’t alone. Some people didn’t really agree with the protesting and riots, but the protests proceeded so people could have their voices heard. 

President Joe Biden has “called on state and local governments to use money from the American Rescue Plan to hire more police officers”, and he signed an executive order last year aimed at holding officers accountable for police misconduct and strengthening public safety. “Among other things, the executive order created a national database of police misconduct, mandated the use of body-worn cameras in certain situations, banned the use of chokeholds and established new standards aimed at limiting the use of force.”