Louisville mayor declares 'state of emergency,' downtown access cut off ahead of Breonna Taylor decision

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mayor Greg Fischer issued a state of emergency Tuesday for Louisville as the city's police began restricting access downtown in anticipation of an announcement on the Breonna Taylor case by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

The order was put in place "due to the potential for civil unrest, which allows (the mayor) to exercise any of his emergency powers, including those to hire or contract for services, and implementing curfews and other restrictions," according to a statement from the mayor's office.

Fischer, in the statement, said he doesn't know when an announcement on the Taylor case is coming.

The police department also declared a state of emergency Monday in order to provide for adequate staffing for whatever situations arise, said interim police Chief Robert Schroeder on Tuesday.

Powers given to the mayor in a state of emergency, according to a state statute 39A.100, include: permission to exclude all nonessential personnel from the scene of an emergency, to declare curfews and to request assistance from other U.S. agencies through the governor.

“Again, we do not know when the announcement will come, but we must prepare for it. Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement,” Fischer's statement, sent at 12:47 p.m. local time, said. “At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.”

The latest: Officer defends actions, slams mayor in mass email to Louisville cops

Protesters: Barriers meant to 'cage' in downtown ahead of Breonna Taylor decision

A second executive order restricts access to five downtown parking garages and bans on-street parking. Louisville Metro Police officials put up barricades in a more than 25-block downtown perimeter overnight to keep cars from being able to enter the area.

Meanwhile, all police department off days and vacation requests were canceled Monday to "ensure we have the appropriate level of staffing to provide for public safety services and our policing functions," Louisville police had previously announced.

A decision in the Taylor case could come as soon as this week. The downtown federal courthouse will be closed in anticipation of an announcement.

Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday evening that he could not comment on his discussions with Cameron about a decision timeline.

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was fatally shot by Louisville police in March.

Since late May, protests, demonstrations and marches have filled Louisville. Among the calls for reform is the demand that the officers involved in her death be arrested and criminally charged. Those officers are Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Detective Myles Cosgrove and former Detective Brett Hankison, who was fired in a decision he is contesting.

Click below to hear more Breonna Taylor news from Louisville

The police department said early Tuesday that the barricades downtown are to keep the area safe for "those coming downtown to express their First Amendment Rights, as well as those who live and work in the area."

Police put up vehicle barricades around Jefferson Square Park (the site of ongoing protests) and across the downtown perimeter and will restrict access further near the park, with only pedestrian access allowed.

Officers also restricted access to more than 25 blocks downtown, allowing in only those who live or work in the area. Parking and access to garages inside the perimeter will also be limited, according to the department, which asked anyone currently parked in the area to move their car as soon as possible.

The department apologized for the "inconvenience" to those who live and work downtown and stressed in a statement that LMPD officials do not know when Cameron's decision will be announced.

"Our goal with these steps is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights, & to prepare for any eventuality to keep everyone safe," Fischer said in a tweet early Tuesday.

The plan to erect barricades ahead of a decision in the Taylor shooting was made long ago by police and the mayor's office but not announced earlier to avoid giving away tactics, Louisville police spokesman Lamont Washington said. The city started erecting barriers around midnight and around 3:30 a.m., when a public notice went out, he said.

Courier Journal columnist Joe Gerth was downtown early Tuesday and said there was no traffic on streets that would normally be bustling with rush hour traffic. He counted just three people outside City Hall, and a small number of people have gathered at Jefferson Square Park.

Meanwhile, the Louisville Downtown Partnership, a nonprofit that aims to help downtown businesses, urged organizations in the area on Monday to allow employees to work from home and take other steps in anticipation of "large crowds" related an announcement about the Breonna Taylor case.

More: Sign up here for This Is America, USA TODAY's newsletter on race and identity

Follow Sarah Ladd on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Lucas Aulbach, @LucasAulbach

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Breonna Taylor announcement: Louisville declares state of emergency