Louisville passes ‘Breonna’s Law’ banning no-knock warrants

The Louisville Metro Council unanimously voted Thursday evening to ban no-knock search search warrants, prohibiting a law enforcement technique that led to the killing of Breonna Taylor in March.

The new measure is named Breonna’s Law after Taylor, a black 26-year-old EMT who was killed by Louisville Metro Police on March 13 after officers entered her home with a no-knock warrant. 

Upon entering Taylor’s home, the officers came under fire from Taylor’s boyfriend and returned gunfire, shooting Taylor at least eight times and killing her.

“All Breonna wanted to do was save lives,” Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, told the council before its vote, according to The Courier-Journal. “So it’s important this law passes, because with that, she’ll get to continue to do that, even in her death.”

Breonna’s Law will also require all officers who serving warrants wear body cameras and have them turned on at least five minutes before the warrant is served, remaining on for at least five minutes after the warrant has been served, the Courier Journal says.

The officers who entered Taylor’s apartment have said that they knocked and announced their presence, but Taylor’s boyfriend said that he never heard either and thought they were intruders. Neighbors of Taylor have also said that they didn’t hear the police knock or announce themselves.

No-knock warrants allow police officers to identify themselves as law enforcement after entering a premise. 

Also on Thursday evening, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) introduced a bill to the Senate that would ban no-knock warrants nationwide.

“After talking with Breonna Taylor’s family, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s long past time to get rid of no-knock warrants,” Paul said. “This bill will effectively end no-knock raids in the United States.”