Louisville Metro Police Lieutenant fights for his job

You're absolutely correct. It seems like the experience is leaving at rates not seen before on either LPD or JCPD.

When I first got hired 22 hears ago, it was pretty uncommon for very many "just 20 year" folks to be leaving. When I went to daywork in the old 5th in 1997, I was working with guys who had on their nametags: "Serving Since 1954", "..Since 1967"...and so on. Average years of service on 2nd Platoon in those days was probably around 27, 28 years, maybe higher. Certainly isn't that way anymore.

So what changed? I'm not sure if it can be pinned on any one catalyst, but it's likely a combination of general public perception of law enforcement (not just LMPD specifically), perceived lack of support from the administration (probably a little of both actual lack of support, and the appearance of lack of support), and the general mood around LMPD.

Maybe I had rose-colored glasses on for my first years on, but I honestly don't recall the amount of back-stabbing, disgruntled folks, and the apparent "entitlement" of many officers as it seems like it is now.

I'm not going to place a blanket-blame on that last one on the younger officers, although that entitlement seems to become more pervasive as the department gets collectively younger.

I do miss some of the folks I worked with since retiring a couple of years ago, but it is honestly a relief to not be exposed to the daily general negativity around that place anymore.

I really hope the department can turn for the better soon, for everyone's sake.