Louisville passes ‘Breonna’s Law’ banning no-knock warrants

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Council unanimously passed a ban on the use of no-knock warrants late Thursday, called Breonna’s Law in honor of a woman shot and killed in her apartment by local authorities in March.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer vowed to sign the ban into law as soon as the measure hits his desk, saying "risk to residents and officers with this kind of search outweigh any benefit."

In addition to prohibiting completely the practice of executing no-knock warrants , the legislation -- named for Breonna Taylor -- requires officers wait a minimum of 15 seconds after knocking and announcing their presence when serving a warrant. It also requires police to wear body cameras when serving warrants and to turn on the cameras five minutes before beginning the operation, WAVE reported.

Taylor was in her apartment with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when police arrived March 13 to execute a warrant in the middle of the night. Walker, mistaking the police for intruders, fired on the officers who returned fire, striking 26-year-old Taylor several times in the process.

Taylor later died, and Walker was initially charged with attempted murder, but the charge has been dropped. The three officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave during an investigation, NPR reported.

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