LEXNAACP.

NET
833-622-7229
INFO.FAYETTE@KYNAACP.ORG
P.O. BOX 13655 LEXINGTON, KY 40483
LEXINGTON-FAYETTE WHIT WHITAKER, PRESIDENT

BRANCH 3097

May 31, 2022

Dear Mayor Linda Gorton:

Lexington Fayette County Urban Council Government:

This follow-up letter is in response to the considerable number of questions that arose from the community
after the press coverage of our May 20, 2022 letter regarding the tragedy in the 400 block of Rogers Road
earlier in the month. Some of those additional requests and questions worthy of an investigation include:

1) As evidenced in the recording of the 911 calls, what information about the mother, her mental
health, her ability to care for two children was communicated to the police that resulted in the
two visits to the home?
2) As evidenced by police body camera footage, what was shared about the mother, her mental
health, and the welfare of the children during the visit that resulted in the police decision to not
seek psychiatric treatment and/or report to child protective services?
3) As presented by community members, concerns that law enforcement denied the mother access
to attorneys during her hospitalization?

The Lexington-Fayette NAACP continues to request an independent investigation of the Lexington

Police Department (LPD) so that the community can feel safe when contacting the police about
nonviolent offenses, mental health related issues, and other preventative measures that we entrust to
the Lexington Police Department as our first responders.
This incident has been the second to occur during the last two years where vulnerable children were
left in the care of custodians whose mental health was in serious question and the circumstances
resulted in the death of the children. We are calling for this scrutiny and transparency to ensure in the
future that our sworn law enforcement officers take action consistent with the well-being of those who
are most vulnerable, assess thought processes, training and actions that guided the home visit during a
“wellness check” or “mental health emergency”. Furthermore, this investigation is about adherence to
the LPD policies or making necessary revisions to prevent another tragedy.
In the spirit of the Mayor’s Commission for Racial Justice and Equality efforts, The Lexington-
Fayette NAACP would like to broaden this discussion to include a proposal of a Racial Equity Impact
Assessment of all LPD policies and the inclusion of qualified mental health professionals to assist in the
healing of this community from future senseless deaths.
The Lexington-Fayette NAACP welcomes a meeting to resolve this issue on behalf of the community.

Mission
To secure the political, educational , social, and economic equality of rights in order so eliminate race-based discrimination
and ensure she health and well-being of all persons