Former LMPD Officer Hankison Sentenced 33 Months in Breonna Taylor Case

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, plus three years of supervised release, for violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during the 2020 raid that led to her death. Hankison, found guilty of using excessive force by firing 10 shots into Taylor’s apartment, received a sentence longer than the one day recommended by the Department of Justice, which some community members and Taylor's family saw as a partial but insufficient measure of justice. The sentencing sparked emotional reactions from supporters, with many expressing disappointment that the punishment was not harsher but relief that some accountability was achieved. Breonna Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, and attorney Ben Crump stated that while the outcome was not what they had hoped for, it represented a starting point in the ongoing fight for justice and police accountability. Local leaders echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to honor Taylor’s memory by continuing to pursue justice reforms. The case remains a focal point for national conversations about police conduct and civil rights.