LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey says 'error' was made in issuing

During a recent interview with WAVE-TV, Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said an “error” was made in the issuing of an unlawful camping citation to a pregnant woman in labor by a department lieutenant in September.

The incident, first publicized in December, shows Lt. Caleb Stewart issuing a citation to a woman just hours before giving birth to her baby.

“Lieutenant Stewart’s reasoning was he felt like she was using a medical condition to get out of enforcement action, shows after the fact that she wasn’t,” Humphrey said. “That’s an error that was made based on sound reasoning. It just happened to be wrong.”

He continued, saying while things should have been handled differently, it’s the department’s responsibility to enforce city and state laws.

“I think knowing what we know now, I think everybody, including Lt. Stewart, would have done that differently,” Humphrey said. “There is a responsibility that we have to make sure that we go out and police and I think we’ve seen over the past few years that many people have had complaints about our situation with homelessness, whether it be some of the criminal aspects of it, the disruption of downtown and so we’re asking officers to go out there and do that hard work.”

Humphrey said outside of giving the woman a citation, he would have done things “the exact same way.”

Why did LMPD cite an unhoused woman in labor?

The footage shows the woman telling Stewart she was in labor and that her husband had gone to find a phone to call an ambulance as she didn’t have one. Stewart proceeded to say that he didn’t believe she was actively in labor and issued the woman a citation for having a mattress beneath an overpass as first responders arrived to transport her to the hospital.

In a report from Louisville Public Media, her public defender said the woman gave birth later that day.

Who is Caleb Stewart?

Stewart has been at the forefront of enforcing House Bill 5, also known as the Safer Kentucky Act, in LMPD’s First Division, which encompasses the Central Business District in downtown Louisville. A Courier Journal analysis of citations issued by the department since the law went into effect in July shows he has issued more than half of the 44 violations given from July through Nov. 20.

Prior to the video of the woman being cited, Stewart, who acts as the department’s Downtown Patrol Commander, also received scrutiny and a 20-day suspension in 2024 for failing to report a subordinate’s use of deadly force against an unhoused man in a downtown hotel lobby.

Other city officials in addition to Humphrey have defended Stewart’s actions. LMPD spokesperson Matthew Sanders said in a statement the woman had declined offers of “resources for shelter” from the city on two previous occasions.

More in U.S.

Press Secretary for Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Kevin Trager, also stood by Stewart’s actions.

“We are thankful LMPD called an ambulance, and the baby was born in a hospital with medical care,” he said in a written statement. “This is why our homeless services staff work hard to offer support and shelter to those in need. Unfortunately, there are people living on our streets who turn down these offers of help even though they desperately need them.”

Reporter Josh Wood contributed. Contact breaking news reporter Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: LMPD chief says ‘error’ made in citing unhoused woman in labor

EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel