Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey says racial disparities in traffic stops and searches are real, but he says the data can help the department understand why they happen and improve policing.
Understanding the Data
The department’s data shows violent crime fell 32% from 2023 to 2025, but it was concentrated in a few neighborhoods, including Russell, Park Hill, Portland, Shawnee, Chickasaw, and California. More than 70% of gun violence victims were Black, even though Black residents make up 22% of the metro population.
Humphrey said he understands what it feels like to be searched: ‘no matter how many times the officer told me that it was OK, it still felt like a violation.’ He said he wants officers to avoid intentionally biased interactions while still reducing crime effectively.
The data also shows LMPD searched Black subjects 66% more frequently than white subjects, even after controlling for age, location, and reason for the stop. Humphrey emphasized that it is not realistic to expect no disparity in enforcement when police efforts are targeted at areas with higher crime.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
