Mayor announces stepped-up downtown security, outreach changes after reported assault

Mayor Linda Gorton told the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council on Aug. 14 that she has ordered a series of security and outreach changes downtown after a woman was assaulted earlier this week.

Gorton said the city will increase police patrols downtown, expand private security at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza and the soon-to-reopen Phoenix Park to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and hire private security for Tandy Park from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. nightly. The police will conduct joint operations with the city—ontracted street outreach team, which will be refocused on the downtown core, and the city will issue a request for proposals next week to contract a second street outreach team, she said. The city is also investigating the cost of adding more security cameras downtown.

"This is a compassionate city nd we prove that every day through the programs we provide for people in our community who need help, and we must also be a safe city, and we cannot tolerate criminal activity," Gorton said, reading a statement distributed to council and the media earlier in the afternoon.

Gorton said the changes were agreed at an "urgent" meeting with city and partner staff. She also urged residents who see or experience unsafe situations to call 911.

Council members who spoke during the meeting welcomed the measures and encouraged residents to report incidents to police so resources can be aligned. Councilmember James Brown said reporting helps the department allocate resources: "If you see something, call and I think we would be responsive," he said.

The mayor described the planned shift for the city's existing street outreach contractor: the team, which normally deploys citywide to address encampments, will be refocused to work alongside police on relocation and service offers aimed at discouraging congregation in the downtown core. Gorton said a second outreach contract will be solicited and that the city will explore private security and camera options to enhance safety.

At the public-comment portion of the meeting, a resident who identified herself as Britney Steven Price urged the city to take more direct outreach steps to contact people experiencing homelessness. Price, who described recent personal experiences with homelessness and shelter services, said a team of social workers should "go out and talk to the homeless, walk up to them and ask re you doing okay? Do you need help?" She said more places for shelter during extreme weather are needed.

The council did not vote on new spending during the meeting on the new security or outreach measures; Gorton indicated procurement steps (an RFP) and staffing changes will follow and be subject to normal contracting and appropriation processes where required.

Council members and the mayor said they will continue to communicate with downtown stakeholders and the public about operational details as the contracts and deployments are finalized.