LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Scottie Scheffler case is officially closed, but that doesn't mean people in Louisville are done raising questions with how it was handled -- and whether it reflects the persisting issues within the city's police department.
Well-known Louisville attorney Thomas Clay, who's represented hundreds of police officers in his career including some who've been fired by LMPD, is troubled by how the Scheffler case was handled since May 17.
"Things are still recurring which cast substantial doubt on LMPD's professionalism," Clay told WHAS11 on Thursday, a day after a judge approved a motion by the Jefferson County Attorney to dismiss all charges.
Clay said the 12-day saga has been a bad look for both Metro Police and the Mayor's Office. He believes with access to all available video, an LMPD internal investigation should have been able to find there wasn't sufficient enough evidence to support the charges -- without needing County Attorney Mike O'Connell to make the motion nearly two weeks after the incident.
"I've had communications with some officers who are appalled by the way this has been handled," Clay said. "This incident to me here is just further confirmation of the conclusions that were released by the [U.S.] Department of Justice, involving problems within the LMPD."
This comes as the city negotiates with the DOJ on a federal consent decree to reform LMPD. The DOJ's report from March of 2023 found police routinely violate people's civil rights and their own department policy.
And to some community leaders, LMPD Det. Bryan Gillis failing to activate his body worn camera outside Valhalla Golf Club that morning is a microcosm of an overarching problem -- questioning whether testimony matches what actually happened.
WHAS11 asked LMPD for an interview to talk about its takeaways from this case, and to confirm whether a statement circulating online appearing to be from Gillis responding to the dismissal of the charges is real.
A police spokesperson wrote, "We're aware of the statement; however, at this time, we are unable to offer any additional comments on it. We appreciate the opportunity to provide an interview, but at this time we are unable."
While much of the country zeroed in on the Scottie Scheffler case because of his fame, people here in Louisville have raised questions over its own legal system and police department.
After Wednesday's hearing, Scheffler's attorney Steve Romines was critical of LMPD.
"I think everybody sees something like this happen and realizes they're one wrong turn, or running into the wrong person, from going to jail themselves," Romines said Wednesday.
We asked Clay if he believes the city should be doing anything more in the aftermath of the Scheffler case.
Clay answered, "Yes. I think there are questions about the competency of this Chief of Police, which need to be scrutinized."
Meanwhile at a news conference announcing a resolution for 'The People's Consent Decree', Metro Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright (D-3) was asked by WHAS11 how she thinks the Scheffler investigation was handled.
She spoke about the pro golfer's quick trip in and out of jail without a bond hearing.
"I want the best outcome for anybody going through the judicial process, so I definitely wanted that for Mr. Scheffler. But was he treated differently because of his status? It's obvious he was," Parrish-Wright said.
And Louisville Urban League CEO Lyndon Pryor talked to us about the County Attorney's motion to dismiss charges.
"To see it happen in this case, right or wrong, is just unfortunate because it just highlights the inequities that happen in the system," he said.
When asked for an update on consent decree negotiations with the DOJ, a Mayor's Office spokesperson said, "We are making good progress on the negotiations. It is a substantial document that will impact the city for several years, so everything will be carefully considered."
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.