LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Chief Lawrence Weathers believes in the merits of no-knock search warrants, but that belief isn’t mutually exclusive to the moratorium Mayor Linda Gorton placed on their use, unless instructed by her to do so.
“The moratorium was common sense,” Weathers said during an on-line Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government meeting on Tuesday. “But I would caution anybody about making an absolute of anything, especially when it comes to life and death,” he continued.
Weathers explained just how lengthy the process of obtaining a no-knock warrant is, and stressed that one can be obtained, but not necessarily used.
“When we get a warrant signed for a no-knock and when we get there and the circumstances change, we won’t execute it as such,” he explained. “We won’t execute anything, unless life is in danger.”
Only four no-knock warrants were executed in Lexington over the last five years (none in the last 12-months), and Weathers said shots weren’t fired during any of those searches.
The council discussed other police reform measures, including how disciplinary matters would be handled going forward. They also have plans to hold a second meeting, which will also allow for public viewing and participation.
