LOUISVILLE, KY (February 22, 2018) – Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad and FBI Special Agent in Charge Amy Hess today announced the agencies' latest partnership—a joint effort to investigate public corruption and civil rights violations.

The new Louisville Public Corruption Civil Rights Task Force (LPC-CRTF) formalizes a relationship started some time ago, combining resources to work together on investigations that involve allegations of public corruption or color of law violations.

Task force members will identify, investigate, and pursue prosecution of federal, state, county, and local public officials or public entities; individuals associated with these entities; or individuals representing these entities who have or are committing violations of federal or state criminal statutes.

“It is essential that the public have confidence in its elected officials and public employees," said Chief Conrad. "This task force will allow us to improve our investigations into corruption and violations of civil rights so that the public can have the highest confidence that those who violate their trust will be held accountable."

FBI offices in several cities, including Indianapolis and Cincinnati, have created 49 of these task forces.

“This announcement formalizes the work the FBI and local law enforcement have successfully done together before," said Hess, special agent in charge of the Louisville FBI office. "Combining forces puts us in a stronger position to root out those who violate the public trust."

SAC Hess and Chief Conrad will oversee the work of the task force. A supervisory special agent of the FBI will lead the team.

Russell Coleman, U.S. Attorney for the Western District, expressed his support for the task force.

“We have a long history in this community of cooperation aimed at holding offenders to the highest accountability the law allows," Coleman said. "This task force will strengthen an important state and federal partnership and give people more confidence in our government and public officials."

Mayor Greg Fischer added his support to the effort.

“The FBI has been a great partner in battling violent crime in our community," he said, "and I look forward to our agencies building on that coordination and collaboration as they work in this area."