Officers walk out on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer in protest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Louisville Metro police officers organized a protest of their own Wednesday by walking out on Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, WAVE 3 News Troubleshooters have learned.

Exclusive video (watch in the video player above) showed hundreds of LMPD officers walking out when Fischer arrived to address them.

This happened Wednesday during roll call, as about 200 officers were getting ready for their 12-hour shifts.

The Fraternal Order of Police President Ryan Nichols told WAVE 3 News that officers do not feel supported by Fischer as they try to protect the citizens and the city from violence and looting.

“The Mayor is the leader of our city including this police department,” Nichols said. “For this to be the first time he’s tried to address his officer who have been working in these extremely treacherous conditions after he has made numerous attempts to address other entities, they feel completely disrespected and unsupported by him.”

Several officers there told WAVE 3 News the walkout was not planned.

Mayor Fischer issued the following statement regarding what happened:

“The men and women of LMPD are putting in long hours. They are suffering insults and assaults from people they are working to protect. They are worried for their families and this city. They are frustrated, and some of them expressed that frustration today. I absolutely respect that. That doesn’t change my appreciation of the work they are doing, as I’ve expressed time and again. They have a very difficult job. I hope our residents will embrace our police officers as guardians –I know that’s how the vast, vast majority view their role.”

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