Former Detective Crystal Marlowe's Firing Upheld By Police Merit Board
Last week the Louisville Police Merit Board finally made the decision that former Detective Crystal Marlowe was rightfully fired for wrongfully charging several people and repeatedly misusing photographs intended to help witnesses identify suspects.
The merit board did not take long (under an hour) to vote 3-1 with Chief Robert White, who fired Marlowe in January after concluding she had shown “blatant disregard” for departmental rules
Ryan Vantrease, an attorney in Louisville, along with John A. Bahe, Jr. and David Mushlin of Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger represent nine people in wrongful-arrest lawsuits against Marlowe and the department. However, at this time it is hard to tell exactly how many more victims might be out there, including many minors who are under the age of eighteen (18); thereby tolling their time to file a lawsuit.
Central to the case was assistant Jefferson County attorney, Paul Richwalsky’s testimony in which he implied Ms. Marlowe treated arrests as her “statistics” and that she was unconcerned with actual convictions or whether the case had any real merit. Assistant County Attorney William Warner, who presented the case against Marlowe said the whole case was a “tragedy” for those involved.
The merit board hearing, which began in May, lends great support to Chief White’s earlier decision to terminate Ms. Marlowe’s employment with LMPD.
