Police in Louisville cancel vacations ahead of announcement in Breonna Taylor case

Police in Louisville, Kentucky, are cancelling vacations ahead of an announcement in the case of the killing of Breonna Taylor.

On Monday, Louisville Metro Police Department released a statement saying that all off-day and vacation requests were cancelled until further notice, WHAS11 reports.

The move comes in preparation for an announcement by Attorney General Daniel Cameron concerning the case, though no timetable has been given.

The statement added that the public may see barriers being staged around downtown Louisville as part of the department’s preparations — where many of the protests about Ms Taylor’s death have taken place.

A state of emergency remains in effect as the coronavirus pandemic and protests continue.

AG Cameron has said in the past that a thorough investigation cannot follow a specific timeline and that the office of the attorney general will pursue justice however long that will take.

“When the investigation concludes and a decision is made, we will provide an update about an announcement,” a statement from 9 September reads.

“The news will come from our office and not unnamed sources. Until that time, the investigation remains ongoing,” it continues.

Breonna Taylor was killed by police on 13 March when Louisville Metro officers carried out a narcotics raid on her home.

The emergency medical technician had been asleep when the officers entered her apartment and was shot eight times when they confronted her boyfriend. No drugs were found on the property.

Anger at the death of the 26-year-old led to demonstrations both locally and then nationwide demanding the officers involved be arrested.

None of the three officers involved at the scene wore body-mounted cameras. To date no criminal charges have been filed. In addition to the attorney general, the FBI is also investigating the case.

The city of Louisville, Kentucky will pay $12m to Ms Taylor’s family and commit to police reform and transparency measures to settle a civil lawsuit filed in the wake of the police killing.

“Her death has ignited a movement in Louisville and in the nation for racial justice, sending thousands into our streets and cities across the country and world all crying out for justice for Breonna," Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said.