Becky, thank you so much for
making us a part of such a big .
Of course, you've been in this
role for a number of months now.
What was it like for you to hear those words,
to know that you are really
in that role and among twenty
people you were topnotch? Wow,
I was still overwhelmed with just such
joy and and being humbled to be chosen as
the person to continue on this journey.
I didn't take it for granted tht
Mayor Green River was going to
select me because he had the rit
to select the best person to lee
the department and to leave the city.
Just I'm just so blessed and
fortunate that I was chosen.
You got a little emotional.
I can tell you're trying to hold back.
But when the when the mayor
addressed you and was talking at
especially the day of the mass
shooting and having to talk to e
of the family members and then e
widow said how much she loved y,
we could all see it.
You're holding it together
until that point but what was
going through your mind? I
was moved and I was touched that
just something that is my DNA,
me reaching out to families and being
present and giving some condolences and
just reaching out to them in a time of need.
But someone in their still their
grieving process and in their distress
moments was able to just share t
they loved me and and that was
that took me back a little bit.
And I've just just reminded me that it's
just so much great work out here to be done.
So many civilians that
really need our protection.
I didn't need our support and
for us to do it in a manner that
everybody can be proud of. And.
And that was a touching moment for me.
Why Louisville?
I mean, you followed your
former chief Erica Shields here.
She leaves, you stay.
And in such a time when there's
such conflict in our city,
especially with the Police Department,
why, why take this job?
Why not? Why not? Why not?
And I look at it in the vein of the city
needed someone that is able to to stand
stand their ground and to be able to show
the strong leadership that is needed,
to be able to give guidance ande
open to hear the concerns of ot,
but also to provide some solutions in
the process. And why not Louisv?
Why, why not that I come here to
continue to do the great work tt
I've been doing for so many yea?
And I found that I was needed
here and still needed here.
And that is just tremendously
pleasing to me to know that I am still
able to serve so many people tht
really truly need my service. Bg
a black female in this positionl
time now that that means someth,
especially during this time post
Brianna Taylor conflicts to you.
What do you hope that stands fo?
I'm hoping that we're able to to
bring the community even more so
together to be able to bridge se
of the gaps that we have and soe
of the divide and and continue o
break down those walls of mistr.
As I said so many times before and and
just to be able to stand here today as
the the first black African Amen
female permanent chief of Louisville,
I mean L&amp;PD that is thas
huge within itself but also too.
I submit and I'm just so gratefl
that I'm able to say that I'm
competent in my leadership abils
and what I bring to the table.
And so both of those things fusing together,
it's just it's just really rewag
for me and I'm hoping that the
citizens will continue to see tt
it being rewarding to them as w.
Yeah, we've seen that over the
last seven months for sure,
coming you coming out of your sl
and you can see the confidence.
30 more seconds, but just sometg
that a lot of people don't real.
Being an ordained pastor,
when we saw you at that MLK eve,
that was the day.
Everything for a lot of people
change when they saw you up
up there at the podium.
That's just a whole other aspect that I
think kind of brings people live with you.
Yeah, my
faith is so strong.
The guy that I served is,
is, is the one that allows
me to do what I need to do.
And it allows my faith allows me to stay
in the fight and and to to really see.
And I try to see every day in
humanity through the eyes of Go.
I really do.
And so therefore I expect from y
service to actually reveal that
and for me to be able to embrace
the people that I serve every dy
in a matter of love and support.
All right. Chief. Thanks.
Thank you so much again on such a big day.
Our permanent chief here with Ellen PD.
A long time coming.
And we appreciate your time. Thank you
so much for having me.