The Louisville Metro Police Department is 12.5% African American, which is 146 officers of the total department of 1,168. One hundred and twenty-two are males and 24 are females. We have heard from enough Black officers in the Louisville Metro Police Department to know that many do not feel valued or fully considered for promotion. This must change. We also do not want them to be retaliated against if and when their challenges are made public.

• We expect an immediate focus on increasing the number of African American male and female officers. We also want to see the number of officers of color and female officers increase, regardless of race or nationality.
• We want the creation of a Black Police Officers Union or Association. This group will focus on the recruitment, retention, and success of Black police officers. This is necessary because our Black officers are not exempt from harassment or discrimination when they are out of uniform and sometimes even when they are in uniform in the Department. 
• We would like for the FOP to disclose the amount of money in its total annual budget and we would like the amount that is spent on minority affairs issues to include, but not be limited to, recruitment, hiring and promotion of African American and minority police officers.
• We want to know the total budget for the police department and how much of that annual budget is spent on minority affairs issues, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring and promotion of African American and minority police officers. Also, we must know the amount of money spent on building and improving cultural competency and police community relations. 
• We want a police force that is representative of the entire community, and we want evidence of investments made that will move us toward that goal. 

Who needs to act? You; Mayor Greg Fischer; Louisville Metro Police Department; River City Police Union; Louisville Metro Council