Council Members to Host Police Chief Forum

The African-American members of the Louisville Metro Council are holding a forum for constituents to voice their concerns and priorities as the city begins its search for a new police chief.Last month, Chief Robert White announced he was leaving to become chief of the Denver Police Department. White was the first black chief in Louisville and is credited with improving relations between police and minorities.Councilman David James, D-6, is a former FOP president and vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee. He says city lawmakers are reaching out to residents to provide Mayor Greg Fischer with input on what to look for when selecting a new chief."It’s extremely important that all areas of the community are engaged with the next police chief, but in particular the African-American community. In west Louisville, we’ve had a large number of violent acts that have taken place and it’s going to require an individual who can connect with the community and engage them in a way that will help reduce crime," he says. James also said the next chief will have to address internal issues in the department as much as continued relations with the community.The council members representing districts 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will host a public forum on Thursday at the NIA Center along West Broadway. A second forum for District 2 residents will be held on the same night at the Newburg Community Center.Both meetings will begin at 6 pm.