'It's just disgusting': Some outrage, concern over LMPD officers throwing drinks at people
Outrage came from some on Wednesday after two former LMPD detectives admitted to throwing beverages at people in west Louisville on numerous occasions.
Both former LMPD officers served as detectives in the department's 9th division.
On Tuesday, Curt Flynn and Bryan Wilson pleaded guilty to federal charges, which the FBI said violated the civil rights of people living in west Louisville.
From 2018 to 2019, court documents state the civil violations happened while they were on the job in unmarked cars, but wearing clothes that identified them as LMPD officers.
"I think it's important for people in this community to understand what some of our officers are capable of," Sadiqa Reynolds, the president of the Louisville Urban League said.
Documents show both men would take drinks into their cars and after they picked a target, they or sometimes another driver, would slow down and drive to the sidewalk. They would announce on the police radio "someone was thirsty" or "thirsty fam" ... throw the drink, hitting the person and speed off.
"It's just disgusting, so they deserve everything that's coming at them," Mayor Greg Fischer said.
"If you disrespect people when you're driving down the road with a big Slurpee in your hand, how else are your disrespecting people," said District 13 Councilman Mark Fox, a former LMPD major.
Prosecutors say in some instances, someone would record the despicable acts on a cell phone and share the video with other officers.
"I don't get it, I simply don't get it," Fox said.
Chief Erika Shields, who was not at the department at the time, says their behavior was demoralizing and dehumanizing.
She's starting an internal investigation with the professional standards unit and says if anyone else had knowledge or involvement, they will face discipline.
Fox says, based on what he's read, he expects action to be taken.
"I certainly see letters of reprimand being in order, some suspension days being in order," Fox told 비바카지노 Viva.
For a department that's been working to rebuild the trust with the community, Reynolds says the actions of a few make it more difficult for others who are trying.
"I feel like these actions and what they are guilty of should show the community that we have not been making these things up, all officers are not wonderful, all officers are not bad, but there are some bad ones and they are really bad," Reynolds said.
Wilson also pleaded guilty in a separate case to one count of conspiracy to commit cyberstalking. Prosecutors say he hacked several women's computer apps, and threatened to publish compromising pictures and videos, unless they sent him more. Both men will be sentenced in September. Wilson faces 15 years in prison and Flynn faces 10 years.