Councilman pens open-letter to LMPD chief seeking answers after officer seen punching protester Share Updated: 11:11 PM EDT Apr 21, 2021 Share Updated: 11:11 PM EDT Apr 21, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript REPORTER: METRO COUNCILMAN JECOREY ARTHUR IS DEMANDING ANSWERS FROM LMPD AFTER THE VIOLENT ARREST OF DEE GARRETT, WHICH LEFT HIM WITH A SWOLLEN LEFT EYE. >> SINCE I HAVE TAKEN OFFICE, I’VE NOT HAD A MEETING WITH LMPD OR CHIEF SHIELDS, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS BEYOND A COUPLE TEXT MESSAGES HERE OR THERE. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYBODY ABOUT ANYTHING. >> STOP RESISTING. REPORTER: SUNDAY’S VIOLENT ARREST OF PROTESTOR DEE GARRETT HAS PROMPTED METRO COUNCILMAN JECOREY ARTHUR TO PEN AN OPEN EMAIL TO LMPD CHIEF ERIKA SHIELDS. HE QUESTIONS IF PROPER DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES WERE USED AND WHY NO ONE FROM LMPD INTERVENED WHILE GARRETT WAS BEING PUNCHED IN THE FACE, AMONG OTHER QUESTIONS. >> WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO WITH THIS OPEN EMAIL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PART OF THE PROCESS IN A WAY THAT THEY’VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE. A LOT OF EMOTIONAL REACTIONS AND RIGHTFULLY SO OF PEOPLE SAYING THIS WAS WRONG AND THESE OFFICERS NEED TO BE PUNISHED, BUT WHAT I AM TRYING TO DO IS SAY WHY IT WAS WRONG. REPORTER: AND HE DOES THAT IN HIS EMAIL, WHERE HE OUTLINES LMPD’S OWN POLICY, INCLUDING SECTION 7 OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS PASSED LAST YEAR, THAT STATES AN OFFICER SHOULD USE THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FORCE REASONABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF A SUBJECT. >> PUT YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK. >> WHAT I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS VIDEO WAS THAT YOU HAD AN OFFICER PUNCHING DEE IN THE FACE, AND YOU HAD OTHER OFFICERS NOT INTERVENING. IT WAS REALLY JUST A MESS OF A SITUATION. REPORTER: A SITUATION THAT COULDN’T HAVE COME AT A WORST TIME FOR A CITY THAT IS STILL REELING AFTER THE LOSS OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND A COUNTRY NOW COMING TO GRIPS WITH POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AFTER THE VERDICT OF DEREK CHAUVIN FOR THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD. COUNCILMAN ARTHUR BELIEVES THE OFFICER SEEN PUNCHING GARRETT SHOULD BE DISMISSED, AND HE SAID HE HOPES TO GET A RESPONSE SOON, FROM LMPD CHIEF ERIKA SHIELDS. >> SO I AM HOPING THAT SHE’LL SEE THIS AND GET IT TO THE PROPER CHANNELS AND PARTS OF HER AGENCY, AND THEY WILL CONSIDER EVERY THING THAT WE ANALYZED IN THEIR DECISION MAKING WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO THE ATTACK ON DEE GARR