LOUISVILLE, Ky.
Two more officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor have been fired a detective believed to have fired the fatal shot and another who sought the search warrant that led to the deadly raid, authorities announced Wednesday.
The announcement came moments after city officials said the former Atlanta police chief would soon take over the Louisville Police Department after months of unrest over Taylor’s death. Erika Shields served in Atlanta for 25 years, including more than three years as chief. Her tenure ended when she resigned in June after Atlanta officers fatally shot a Black man named Rayshard Brooks in a restaurant parking lot.
Louisville hires new police chief; 2 detectives involved in Breonna Taylor raid are fired
Updated Jan 06, 2021;
Posted Jan 06, 2021
FILE - This undated file photo provided by Taylor family attorney Sam Aguiar shows Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky. (Courtesy of Taylor Family attorney Sam Aguiar via AP, File)AP
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Louisville has hired Atlanta’s former chief to lead its police department after months of unrest over the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, and fired two more officers involved in the deadly raid.
The firings were announced Wednesday by city officials moments after they revealed their choice to lead the department. Erika Shields was the unanimous pick of a panel tasked with selecting the new chief, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said. She’ll be the fourth person to lead the department in Kentucky’s largest city since Taylor was shot by officers serving a warrant in March.
Former Atlanta police chief to lead Louisville Metro Police Department in the wake of Breonna Taylor shooting death
Former Atlanta police chief Erika Shields, who stepped down after an officer shot and killed a man following a struggle in a Wendy’s parking lot, will now lead the Louisville Metro Police Department, which is still under the spotlight almost a year after the shooting death of Breonna Taylor.
At a news conference announcing her selection, Shields faced questions about Brooks and Taylor.
“It does an injustice to Breonna Taylor to say that they’re similar instances. They’re not,” Shields said. “Every situation is different. The public is not going to take the time to differentiate. They’re just going to see police heavy handedness. In saying that, though, I would ask people to look at my body of work.”
Search panel sent Louisville mayor unanimous choice for new police chief, Metro Council president says wdrb.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wdrb.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By MARK OSBORNE, ABC News
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) The Louisville Metro Police Department has moved to fire two officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in her apartment earlier this year.
Officer Myles Cosgrove and Detective Joshua Jaynes were both notified of termination Tuesday, according to their lawyers. Both officers will answer the termination notices in a hearing before Police Chief Yvette Gentry, who was named to the role in September, on Thursday. They can also appeal the police chief s final determination. We plan to attend the pre-termination hearing on December 31st, although I expect the result has already been pre-determined, Thomas Clay, Jaynes lawyer, told ABC News in a statement. I fully expect Mr. Jaynes will be terminated after the hearing no matter what the evidence is to the contrary. We will appeal any disciplinary action taken against Mr. Jaynes because I believe the evidence shows he did nothing wrong.