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Mark Schlabach, ESPN senior writer
Louisville Police Department has taken “corrective action” against the officer who arrested No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler last week for failing to activate his body camera video recorder during an incident outside the gates of Valhalla Golf Club. police chief Jacqueline announced. Gwyn Villarroel made the announcement Thursday.
Gwyn Villarroel said at a news conference that Detective Brian Gillis violated standard operating procedures regarding police body-worn cameras (BWCs). The procedure states that officers must “keep the BWC operational at all times.”
“Detective Gillis did not have his body-worn camera in an operational state, as required by our policy,” Gwynn Villarreal said. “He was conducting law enforcement activities as defined in our policy. Additionally, section 4.31.7 states members will maintain their BWC in an operational state at all times.”
“Detective Gillis should have turned on his body-worn camera, but he did not. Failure to do so violates LMPD policy regarding uniforms and equipment.”
Gwyn Villarroel said Gillis was advised by his supervisor and the violations were recorded in his personnel file.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said no video exists of Gillis’ initial conversation with Scheffler.
“We understand the seriousness of not recording this interaction, which is why our agency staff received corrective action for this violation of regulations,” Gwynn Villarroel said.
Louisville police on Thursday released two videos taken from a permanent security camera across the road from where Scheffler was arrested and from the dashcam of a patrol car at the scene.
Gillis said that his body-worn camera failed to record, and that “While directing traffic in front of Gate 1, a PGA official stopped a bus that was attempting to enter Gate 1. I saw a vehicle coming towards me. I stopped the bus.” The driver told me he couldn’t go on because of the bus, so he went ahead against my instructions and I arrested him. ”
Scheffler, 27, is charged with second-degree assault on a police officer, third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and failure to signal at a traffic-directing officer. Assault is a serious crime. The others are misdemeanors.
Scheffler’s attorney, Stephen Romines, told reporters shortly after Thursday’s news conference that his client was not interested in a plea deal. He previously told ESPN that Scheffler would maintain his innocence.
“Our position is the same as last Friday,” Romines said. “Scottie Scheffler did nothing wrong. We’re not interested in settling the case. Either we go to trial or it gets dismissed. It’s very simple. All the evidence that comes along just continues to support Scottie’s claims.”I kept saying, “This is a chaotic situation and miscommunication, and he did nothing wrong.”
The arraignment is scheduled for June 3rd at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Gillis was standing in the center of the westbound lane when Schaeffler’s SUV swerved into traffic to avoid traffic before the second round of the PGA Championship, according to a police incident report released Friday. . The report said Gillis was wearing a police uniform and a “high-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket.”
According to the incident report, Gillis stopped Scheffler’s SUV and attempted to give him commands, but Scheffler “refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground,” the report said.
Gillis was taken to the hospital by paramedics and evaluated. Gillis suffered “pain, swelling and abrasions” to her left wrist and knee, according to the report. Her pants were also damaged beyond repair.
Traffic was reopened around 5 a.m. ET on Friday after a fatal accident in which a business employee was struck and killed by a bus as he crossed the road to Valhalla.
Greenberg said the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office has requested that additional evidence not be released until the case is resolved.
“We all want to move forward,” Greenberg said. “I know there are a lot of questions right now from all the media members here and people around the city. We have to respect the legal process and that’s what we’re going to do and we’re going to let it go. We want to move forward. Mr. Scheffler has made it clear he wants to move forward and I know everyone involved with LMPD wants to move forward.”
