Officer who had a book deal to write about Breonna Taylor’s death to retire
The police officer who fired at Breonna Taylor and who himself was shot in the leg during the deadly raid on her apartment in Louisville, Ky., is retiring.
Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly is planning to retire from the Louisville Metro Police Department on June 1, police spokesperson Beth Ruoff told news outlets.
Mattingly, 48, was shot in the leg by Taylor’s boyfriend during the March 13, 2020, raid on her apartment. The woman’s boyfriend said he feared an intruder was breaking in. Officers returned fire, killing Taylor, 26.
The death of Taylor, a Black woman, sparked massive protests around the country and led to the end of “no-knock” warrants in Louisville.
Mattingly was recently reprimanded by the chief of police for an email he sent in September that was critical of department leadership. He has been with Louisville police since 2000.
Mattingly’s plans to write a book about the Taylor case set off a storm of criticism on social media this month. The book’s publishing house, Post Hill Press, lost its distributor after Simon & Schuster announced it would not be involved. The book had been scheduled for a fall release.
Six months after Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by police in her Kentucky apartment, a grand jury delivered a long-awaited decision.
Mattingly said in a statement that the U.S. Justice Department’s announcement this week of an investigation into Louisville police did not affect his decision.
“I’ve never taken lightly the responsibility that comes along with serving the great citizens of Louisville,” Mattingly’s statement said. “It’s my hope and prayer, that moving forward, our city can heal and unite. My plan was not to move on from this calling, but in the best interest of my family, the time has come.”
The statement continued: “The current DOJ investigation into the department played no role in this decision. I have great faith in the men and women of LMPD, who selflessly give of themselves, to continue to serve this community in a professional and unbiased manner.”
Mattingly fired six of the 32 shots in the raid at Taylor’s home. Officials determined that another officer, Myles Cosgrove, fired the shot that killed Taylor.
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Mattingly was shot in the femoral artery, but has recovered. Two other officers who fired shots, Cosgrove and Brett Hankison, have been fired. Hankison is facing endangerment charges for firing into Taylor’s neighbor’s apartment.
Mattingly will be due his full police pension after serving more than 20 years in the department.
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