Turhan Knight: LPD officer fired after parody recruitment video telling people they could 'kill for free' and mocking Breonna Taylor
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Turhan Knight, a corrections officer with the Louisville Police Department, was fired Thursday, August 25, after authorities determined that the video he released mocked the death of 26-year-old black woman Breonna Taylor. Knight was fired after recording a parody recruitment video telling people they could "kill for free."
Taylor was killed by plainclothes officers serving a drug warrant at her apartment in March 2020. Police raided her home without charges, broke into her apartment at night, and fired 32 shots. Taylor succumbed to six of them, resulting in her death.
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According to the DailyMail, the video shows Knight in his full uniform walking near a line of police vehicles at the Kentucky State Fair. Knight walked around the vehicle and said, "I'd like to talk to you today about coming in, join our team to answer the call." He further continued, "Brother, we need you, we're going through many ups and downs in the city, trying to repair broken relationships." Later he stated, "Brother we need you, and that's what we put on our trucks - we need backup."
Knight then stated, "Answer the call, be a part of a great, great police department." He added, "Never mind what happened to Breonna Taylor, we killed that b****." Knight then walks up to another armored vehicle, and claims to the viewers, "Do you want to drive vehicles like this, and fly in planes? Do you want to be able to unlimited [time] off-duty? Do you want to be able to support your family?" Then came the controversial statement from the former officer, "Do you want to kill people and be able to get off for it?" He then said, "Join Louisville Metro Police Department. Answer the call."
In a statement released by Mayor Greg Fischer, he stated, "I deeply apologize to the family of Breonna Taylor and all of the hard-working and ethical employees of Louisville metro government," he continued. "One person will not tarnish the good work we attempt to do on behalf of our residents." Meanwhile, Knight also apologized to the family of Taylor in an official statement, he said, "I should have received punishment I don’t deny that, but blatant lies told against me to look good for media purposes is just wrong," Knight wrote, " In closing, I hope that I can be forgiven, I pray I will. I made a terrible decision, there aren’t enough apologies that I can give right now but I am deeply remorseful."
Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer spoke to WDRB and said, "I think the video is in very poor taste and am disgusted that he thought a joke about my daughter’s death was a laughable moment," Palmer said. "It continues to show me that LMPD and those who work with them have no regard for their criminal actions against my daughter and continue to disrespect me and my family." A statement from Metro Corrections confirmed the Knight has been fired from his position as soon as officials were able to confirm after inspecting the video." Director (Jerry) Collins was disgusted by the content of the video and moved as quickly as possible to terminate Knight," the statement said.
"Knight's behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the professionalism and spirit of service that we strive for at LMDC." the statement added. Knight further confirmed to Courier Journal, that he was in the process of retaining a lawyer, and Friday is scheduled to be his last day on the job.