A major in the Louisville Metro Police Department sent an email to colleagues in which she demeaned the civilians she is sworn to serve, saying “Don’t make them important, because they are not,” according to NBC News.
Major Bridget Hallahan, commander of the city’s Fifth Division, admitted to writing the email, which has raised concerns with city government and civilian leaders. Hallahan denigrated the positions advocated by the protesters taking to the streets of Louisville in the wake of a grand jury failing to hold anyone accounting for the police shooting death of Breonna Taylor.
“These ANTIFA and BLM people, especially the ones who just jumped on the bandwagon ‘yesterday’ because they became ‘woke’ (insert eye roll here), do not deserve a second glance or thought from us. Our little pinky toenails have more character, morals, and ethics, than these punks have in their entire body,” Hallahan wrote.
The email exemplifies many of the critical issues protesters around the country are protesting: that the police do not view themselves as public servants and that they are held, and see themselves, as being above the laws and people who employ them.
“Do not stoop to their level. Do not respond to them. If we do, we only validate what they did. Don’t make them important, because they are not,” Hallahan said in the email. “They will be the ones washing our cars, cashing us out at the Walmart, or living in their parents’ basement playing [Call of Duty] for their entire life.”
When contacted by NBC News about the email, Hallahan expressed little concern about the tone of the email, saying that she was scheduled to retire in six days.
“I want LMPD majors who say that we’re the ones out here washing cars or checking you out at Walmart, no we’re not. We’re lawyers. We’re business people. We’re city employees just like you,” said Lonita Baker, one of three lawyers representing Breonna Taylor’s family. “And guess what? Even if I was washing your car, it doesn’t matter. I have a right to use my voice.”
“We know that we need healing. We know that this city needs healing and we’re willing to do our part,” she said. “But you have to do your part. And until you start doing your part, we won’t heal.”