#Louisville officials detail $12M settlement with family of Breonna Taylor

The city of Louisville, Kentucky announced on Tuesday a $12 million settlement with the family of Breonna Taylor, the black EMT fatally shot by cops during a botched raid on her home.

“For those who knew her, Breonna’s death was personal, the pain is visceral,” said Mayor Greg Fischer in a press conference announcing the massive settlement.

The amount handily surpasses the $8.5 million Louisville coughed up in 2012 to a wrongfully imprisoned man, then largest sum ever awarded by the city in a police misconduct suit.  The city said they would also be enacting police reforms to prevent a similar tragedy.

“It’s important to know here that a financial settlement was non-negotiable without significant police reform,” said Lonita Baker, an attorney for Taylor’s estate.

“It’s important for her family that they minimize the risk of what happened to Breonna Taylor happening to any other family.”

Taylor, 26, was asleep in her apartment in the early hours of March 13 when cops executing a no-knock warrant barged in and fatally shot the unarmed EMT.

Authorities believed that Taylor’s ex-boyfriend was stashing drugs and cash in the apartment, but nothing illegal was found.

To stop repeat of this deadly error, Fischer announced a series of sweeping reforms.

The Louisville Metro Police Department will now require commanding officers to review all search warrants and affidavits for them before they are executed.

Additionally, an early-warning system will be implemented to keep tabs on potentially out-of-control cops, measuring use of force, civilian complaints and other red flags.

Cops will also be financially incentivized to buy homes and volunteer in the communities they serve, Fischer said.

“We’ve finished the first mile in a marathon, and we got a lot more miles to go,” said Baker.

She, fellow attorney Ben Crump and Taylor’s mother called on Kentucky prosecutors to go further and bring criminal charges against the officers involved.

“We are still demanding that Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron bring charges immediately against the police officers that murdered Breonna Taylor,” said Crump.

Added Taylor’s mom, Tamika Palmer, in brief but emotional remarks, “As significant as today is, it’s only the beginning of getting full justice for Breonna.”