City to pay $12M to Taylor’smom, reformpolice

The city of LOUISVILLE, KY.— Louisville will pay $12 million to the family ofBreonnaTaylor and reform police practices as part of a lawsuit settlementmonthsafterTaylor’s slaying by police thrust the Black woman’s name to the forefront of a national reckoning on race, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Tuesday.

Taylor’s death sparked months of protests in Louisville and calls nationwide for the officers to be criminally charged. The state’s attorney general, Daniel Cameron, is investigating police actions in the March 13 fatal shooting.

“I cannot begin to imagine Ms. Palmer’s pain, and I am deeply, deeply sorry for Breonna’s death,” Fischer said, referring to Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer.

At Tuesday’s news conference, an emotional Palmer pushed for charges against the officers involved in the shooting.

“As significant as today is, it’s only the beginning of getting full justice forBreonna,” Palmer said. “We must not lose focus on what the real drive is and with that being said, it’stimetomoveforward with the criminal charges because she deserves that and much more.”

The lawsuit, filed in April by Palmer, alleged the police usedflawedinformationwhen they obtained a “no-knock” warrant to enter the 26-yearold woman’s apartment in March. Taylor and her boyfriendwere roused frombed by police, and her boyfriend, KennethWalker, has said he firedonceattheofficersthinking itwas anintruder. Investigators say policewere returning firewhenthey shotTaylor several times. Nodrugswere found at her home.

“Wewon’tletBreonnaTaylor’s life be swept under the rug,” said Ben Crump, an attorney for Taylor’s family.

Crumpsaid the $12 million settlement is the largest such settlement given out for a Blackwomankilledbypolice. He also called for charges against theofficersandurged people to “say her name,” a phrase that has become a refrain for those outraged by the shooting.

Fischer said the civil settlementhas nothingdowith the criminal investigation.

Asked about the criminal investigation, Senate Majority Leader MitchMcConnell, who represents Kentucky, told reporters Tuesday “the investigation seems to have beenmore complicatedthan a lot of people felt.” He said hehasconfidenceinCameron and stands by him.

The Louisville news conference was broadcast over a loudspeaker downtown and protesters listenedas they sat arounda memorial toTaylor.

In the time since Taylor’s shooting, her death — along with George Floyd and others — has become a rallying cry for protesters seeking a reckoning on racial justice and police reform. High-profilecelebritieslikeOprahWinfrey and LeBron James have called for the officers to be charged in Taylor’s death.