Activists ask city leaders to look at newly proposed ordinance to ban no-knocks

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Activists in Lexington say that they want language added to a proposed ordinance the Urban County Council is considering that would ban no-knock search warrants.

On Thursday night, the group known as ‘Lex-Stand for Breonna’s Law’ met virtually to discuss the proposed ordinance that sets standards for executing search warrants.

It would require police to knock on the door and announce their presence, have their body cameras on, and wait at least 15-seconds before entering.

However, some in the group have a problem with that part of the proposal.

“There’s a clause that needs to be re-inserted in the ordinance for it to be a ban on no-knock warrants and that clause states absent exigent circumstances wait a minimum of 15 seconds or for a reasonable amount of time for occupants to answer the door right now the ordinance allows it to be subjective based on an officers assessment,” says April Taylor an activist with LPD Accountability.

The Urban County Council could vote on the proposed ordinance as early as next week.

The city’s police chief opposes an all-out ban.