LOUISVILLE, KY - Back in March, a woman's vehicle was stolen and now she is calling for changes to the Louisville Metro Police Department's (LMPD) vehicle pursuit policy after her experience highlighted the restrictions in place and how those impact officer's ability to chase suspects.
Surveillance video captured the suspects stealing Cortney Litsey's car from an apartment complex parking lot in Pleasure Ridge Park. The footage shows suspects making a key fob to enter the vehicle before driving away and hitting a car parked nearby, authorities said.
"They really should get a job doing it and make legitimate money because they were that quick at it," Litsey said. She was not the first victim at her apartment complex, WAVE3 reported. Police told residents her car was the 19th vehicle stolen from the property.
Her car was eventually recovered, but the incident has sparked debate over LMPD's current vehicle pursuit policy among Metro Council Republicans who want revisions. Under the current policy, officers can only pursue suspects when a violent felony has been committed, and a stolen car does not meet that criteria.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg defended the current policy, citing safety concerns. "That's meant for the safety of the entire community because there are far too many accidents that have resulted in tragic loss of life as a result of pursuits," the mayor said.
Greenberg has, however, been discussing the policy with LMPD and analyzing potential changes. He noted that new technology could help prevent certain crimes.
"How can we use our new drone program to help apprehend individuals that are breaking into cars and homes. How can we use our flock cameras in our real-time crime center to prevent or apprehend individuals that are doing the same," he said. Mayor Greenberg said that broader safety will remain the focus as they explore the future of the policy.
Litsey laments that the current approach is insufficient and gives criminals permission to commit theft. She added officers didn't take fingerprint samples or write up a police report when her car was stolen.
"They're going down the road, and they run the plate because this vehicle has been reported stolen. The plate shows that it's stolen, and they try to pull them over, and the people run in the car. They're not allowed to chase them? That's wrong. The vehicle was stolen. That's a crime," Litsey said.
Crystal Bast, a councilwoman for Louisville Metro District 14, sounded the alarm on the sheer amount of car break-ins happening in the area. "Car break-ins are getting out of hand again, and it's not the 'only hit the unlocked cars' nonsense anymore," she posted on Facebook.
"They're smashing windows now. Several neighborhoods have been hit over the last few weeks, as well as last night, and it's clear they're not being picky." Bast is among the other Republicans in Metro Council asking for LMPD's current vehicle pursuit policy to be revised, WAVE3 reported.
Surveillance video captured the suspects stealing Cortney Litsey's car from an apartment complex parking lot in Pleasure Ridge Park. The footage shows suspects making a key fob to enter the vehicle before driving away and hitting a car parked nearby, authorities said.
"They really should get a job doing it and make legitimate money because they were that quick at it," Litsey said. She was not the first victim at her apartment complex, WAVE3 reported. Police told residents her car was the 19th vehicle stolen from the property.
Her car was eventually recovered, but the incident has sparked debate over LMPD's current vehicle pursuit policy among Metro Council Republicans who want revisions. Under the current policy, officers can only pursue suspects when a violent felony has been committed, and a stolen car does not meet that criteria.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg defended the current policy, citing safety concerns. "That's meant for the safety of the entire community because there are far too many accidents that have resulted in tragic loss of life as a result of pursuits," the mayor said.
Greenberg has, however, been discussing the policy with LMPD and analyzing potential changes. He noted that new technology could help prevent certain crimes.
"How can we use our new drone program to help apprehend individuals that are breaking into cars and homes. How can we use our flock cameras in our real-time crime center to prevent or apprehend individuals that are doing the same," he said. Mayor Greenberg said that broader safety will remain the focus as they explore the future of the policy.
Litsey laments that the current approach is insufficient and gives criminals permission to commit theft. She added officers didn't take fingerprint samples or write up a police report when her car was stolen.
"They're going down the road, and they run the plate because this vehicle has been reported stolen. The plate shows that it's stolen, and they try to pull them over, and the people run in the car. They're not allowed to chase them? That's wrong. The vehicle was stolen. That's a crime," Litsey said.
Crystal Bast, a councilwoman for Louisville Metro District 14, sounded the alarm on the sheer amount of car break-ins happening in the area. "Car break-ins are getting out of hand again, and it's not the 'only hit the unlocked cars' nonsense anymore," she posted on Facebook.
"They're smashing windows now. Several neighborhoods have been hit over the last few weeks, as well as last night, and it's clear they're not being picky." Bast is among the other Republicans in Metro Council asking for LMPD's current vehicle pursuit policy to be revised, WAVE3 reported.
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Comments
2025-11-20T19:11-0500 | Comment by: James
No chase?! What bullshit! How about if they had shot an officer?! No chase?