The Department of Justice revealed on Wednesday that a nearly two-year civil rights investigation into the Louisville, Kentucky, police department and Louisville Metro Government, which was sparked by the death of Breonna Taylor, discovered a pattern of illegal and discriminatory behavior on the part of the city and law enforcement that violated people’s constitutional rights.

“This conduct is unacceptable and it is heartbreaking,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a press conference, outlining a damning portrait of the Louisville police as he announced the findings of the civil rights investigation.
“It damages the public’s confidence, which is essential for efficient policing. It is an insult to the overwhelming majority of police officers who risk their lives every day in order to serve Louisville honorably and to the city’s residents, who deserve better “Garland uttered.

In order to negotiate for a legally binding consent decree that will include the appointment of an impartial monitor to oversee a number of reforms to address the issues that investigators discovered, he claimed Louisville had signed an agreement in general with the DOJ.

On Wednesday night, the DOJ intends to hold a virtual community meeting to go over its findings with locals in Louisville.