LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A police officer from Kentucky, who sustained injuries during the protests sparked by Breonna Taylor’s death in 2020, has initiated legal action against his police department. Officer Robinson Desroches asserts that he faced discrimination from his superiors after openly expressing his views regarding Taylor’s shooting.
According to the lawsuit lodged in Jefferson County, Desroches claims that Black officers who vocalize concerns about race or criticize their experiences related to racial issues are unfairly labeled as betrayers of the “thin blue line.” He contends that certain leaders within the department attempted to force him out following his statement that the reason for his shooting incident was linked to the actions of LMPD officers involved in the fatal encounter with Breonna Taylor. Desroches also mentions that a commander voiced criticism regarding the lengthy rehabilitation process he underwent after sustaining serious injuries from the shooting.
The Louisville Police Department has refrained from commenting specifically on the lawsuit but released a statement emphasizing their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees feel welcomed, valued, and respected. They also highlighted the seriousness with which they consider allegations of harassment and discrimination. In their statement, the police department noted that they aim to accommodate officers injured in the line of duty by offering alternative roles until they are fully cleared to return to their original positions.
Breonna Taylor was shot and killed during a police raid on her home on March 13, 2020. The two officers involved left the police force several years ago and were not charged with any crimes. Investigations by both federal and state prosecutors concluded that the officers, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, were justified in their response to gunfire from Taylor’s boyfriend, who mistakenly believed the police were intruders. Additionally, two other former Louisville officers are facing allegations in federal court for falsifying the warrant related to the raid.
Currently, Desroches is still with the Louisville police but is on workers’ compensation leave, as noted by his attorney, Sara Collins. He, along with another officer, was shot amid widespread protests in September 2020 that erupted after the announcement from former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron that a grand jury would not indict the officers involved in Taylor’s death. Desroches experienced severe injuries from a gunshot to his stomach, which narrowly missed his spine, and it took more than a year before he could return to work, albeit in a limited capacity. The other officer involved did not suffer serious injuries.
Upon his return to duty, Desroches was assigned to the recruitment division, where superiors later proposed that he take on a role representing the department at various media events. In his lawsuit, Desroches claims he believes the department’s interest in having him share his experiences stemmed from a desire to enhance LMPD’s image and recruitment strategies by utilizing his background as a Black officer who had been shot during the protests. He declined this opportunity, expressing concerns that his experiences could be manipulated to create a misleading narrative about the LMPD, given his critical opinions of the department.
Following his refusal, Desroches alleges that tensions arose with his superiors, culminating in him being denied a recruiting position when he returned to full-time work. He reported being told by a command staff member that he had a “target on his back,” according to the lawsuit. Larynzo Johnson, the individual responsible for shooting Desroches, pleaded guilty in 2022 to multiple counts of assault and endangerment and was subsequently sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Desroches is now seeking both punitive and compensatory damages from the Louisville Police Department as part of his lawsuit.
