2 Louisville officers in Breonna Taylor case told department intends to fire them

The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department is preparing to terminate two officers involved in the police shooting of Breonna Taylor, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.

Interim police chief Yvette Gentry notified Detectives Joshua Jaynes and Myles Cosgrove that the department is moving to fire them, The Louisville Courier Journal first reported.

Jaynes was not present during the shooting itself, but secured a no-knock that led to the raid. Cosgrove fired the fatal shot that night.

Taylor’s death was one of several that led to protests against police brutality over the summer. No officers were charged directly in her killing, leading to more outrage and demonstrations.

Jaynes’ pending termination follows an investigation by the Professional Standards Unit, which found that he violated department procedures for preparation of a search warrant execution and truthfulness, the newspaper reported.

In a predetermination letter to Jaynes obtained by the Journal, Gentry said that James committed “extreme violations of our policies, which endangered others.” She further wrote that his conduct “severely damaged the image our department has established within our community.”

Gentry wrote that Jaynes “lied when he swore” to a judge that he received verified information that Taylor’s ex-boyfriend “has been receiving packages” at Taylor’s apartment, NBC News reported.

He had not received the information from a postal inspector like he indicated in his affidavit, from from a sergeant who received it from another police officer.

Cosgrove, on the other hand, participated in the raid and fired the shot that ultimately killed Taylor, NBC notes.

Jaynes has a termination hearing with on Thursday, the Journal reported. His attorney Thomas Clay told the newspaper that they will “try and convince acting Chief gentry that this action is unwarranted.”

The officers would be the second and third officers in connection with Taylor’s killing fired. Officer Brett Hankison, who was charged with wonton endangerment for shooting into a neighboring apartment, was fired in June.

A spokesperson for the police department declined to comment to The Hill when reached by phone.