Laurel County Requests DOJ Investigation of Harless Case

Laurel County officials are requesting a federal civil rights investigation into the December 2024 shooting death of Douglas “Doug” Harless. This request follows a grand jury’s decision not to indict any of the London police officers involved in the incident.

Judge-Executive David Westerfield and other county officials sent a letter to the U.S. attorney’s office, the FBI, and the U.S. Justice Department Civil Rights Division, formally requesting the probe. They expressed concerns about potential civil rights violations by the London Police Department and city officials.

The Shooting Incident

On December 23, 2024, London police shot and killed Douglas Harless, 63, at his home in Lily while attempting to serve a warrant for stolen lawn equipment. Law enforcement reportedly mistook Harless’ address for another and, upon encountering him holding a pistol, responded with gunfire. The original search warrant and supporting affidavit have not been publicly released. Police department body camera use had been suspended a year prior, leaving no footage of the encounter. It remains unclear why city police were operating outside the London city limits.

Concerns and Transparency

County officials stated that the lack of transparency surrounding the incident has generated fear and distrust within Laurel County. They noted that the limited information available raises concerns about potential officer misconduct and the possibility of similar incidents occurring. The officials emphasized that the grand jury process is respected, but serious questions remain regarding the events of that night.

Federal Investigation Request

The letter requests that the FBI “conduct or expand” an inquiry into the police actions. The city is already under investigation by the FBI for alleged misuse of a federal crime information database. The request was made after receiving approval from the Harless family.

Related Matters

The stolen lawn equipment at the center of the investigation reportedly belonged to Judge-Executive Westerfield, though he denies any involvement in the investigation. Harless’ daughters are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and police department, alleging civil rights violations. A special prosecutor appointed by the state attorney general has stated that the criminal case is effectively closed, barring any additional evidence.

Grand Jury Considerations

Members of the grand jury considered charges of murder, manslaughter, and reckless homicide against a detective on the force, according to a copy of the no true bill obtained by the Herald-Leader. County officials maintain that a federal examination of the civil rights implications remains warranted, even with the state investigation concluded. They stated that Douglas Harless lost his life due to what appears to be a preventable error, and the community deserves the full truth of how and why that error occurred.

Several Laurel County officials signed the letter requesting the federal investigation, including Sheriff John Root, Jailer Jamie Mosley, County Clerk Tony Brown, Property Valuation Administrator Don McFadden, Coroner Doug Bowling, County Surveyor Chris Hubbard, and magistrates John Crawford, Danny Smith, Bobby Overbay, Jeff Brook, Billy Oakley, and Richard Bales.