A Louisville Metro police officer who was shot during 2020 protests following the killing of Breonna Taylor is suing the Louisville Metro department and government over claims of discrimination, a hostile work environment and breach of contract.
Officer Robinson Desroches filed a lawsuit Monday in Jefferson Circuit Court against the city and Mayor Craig Greenberg, claiming he has been discriminated against by the LMPD since he was shot after telling supervising officers that he did not want “his image and story were twisted to portray a false narrative” from the agency after they failed to release “accurate, truthful information from the start” about Taylor’s death.
According to court records, Desroches claims he was shot by Larynzo Johnson along with Major Aubrey Gregory on September 23, 2020 “because LMPD officers killed Breonna Taylor.” Desroches said he was shot in the abdomen, where the bullet passed through his hip and close to his spine, leaving shrapnel that has not yet been removed. He was unable to return to work for over a year and returned in November 2021 with an open wound.
After returning to work in a recruiting role following his injury, he was reportedly asked by Sgt. Justin Bickett and Deputy Chief Emily McKinley will take up prominent positions within the unit, involving regular media and community events.
The lawsuit says Desroches declined the position when asked to “speak about being shot, the progress of his medical recovery, and his joy and gratitude to be back at work,” saying he “often feels had that LMPD did not support him as a black officer. and did not even support him as an officer who was shot in the line of duty” and felt there was a lack of transparency in the Taylor case.
Desroches accuses Bickett and other officers of being “dismissive and hostile” after turning down the position, and when they sought other positions after being cleared for full-time release, he was told there were “no handouts” .
Desroches was later assigned back to the Second Division in 2022, where an email was allegedly sent to Bickett and other commanding officers by another officer with concerns about Desroches’ ability to return due to mental and emotional health issues, the lawsuit said . The email was “ignored” and Desroches was said to be “gaming the system”, with no intervention measures offered until August when it was reviewed by a mental health professional.
Desroches worked in the Second Division until July 2023, when he went on compensatory leave due to injuries sustained during the protest shooting, and was able to return to work in September on light duty in the telephone control room. He regularly called in sick or arrived late, and in November the supervisors said there was “…reasonable suspicion that there may be abuse of sick leave…” and an agreement was eventually reached reaches.
Desroches returned to the Second Division in early December 2023 and was transferred to the Eighth Division in February, where multiple investigations into him were launched by a professional standards unit and a public integrity unit. His police powers were later suspended in August.
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LMPD spokesperson Angela Ingram said in an email to The Courier Journal that while the agency cannot comment on the details of the lawsuit, they are committed to an inclusive environment “where employees feel welcome, valued and respected.”
“The department takes all allegations of harassment and/or discrimination seriously. When employees who have been injured on the job are ready to return to work, LMPD strives to provide reasonable accommodations to accommodate the employee in alternative roles within the department until cleared by a doctor to return to full duty,” Ingram said “In addition, LMPD prioritizes the emotional and physical well-being of all LMPD personnel by offering a variety of services through the Summit. Wellness Center.”
This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: LMPD officer shot during protests against Breonna Talyor, files lawsuit
