Senate president working on bill that would ban most no-knock warrants

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers is working on legislation that would ban most no-knock search warrants in the state.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the exceptions would be for arrest warrants, hostage situations or threats to life.

No-knock search warrants made headlines following the shooting death of Louisville EMT Breonna Taylor in March.

Louisville Police used a no-knock search warrant to get into Taylor’s apartment as part of a drug investigation.  Records show no drugs were found, but police shot Taylor to death, which sparked protests and demonstrations in Louisville and across the country.

It led to a growing call to ban the use of the controversial law enforcement tool.  The City of Louisville is no longer using them and the City of Lexington currently has a moratorium on no-knock search warrants.

The Herald-Leader reports Stivers hopes to have the legislation considered in the next General Assembly session in January 2021.