Former Officer Sentenced to 33 Months for Breonna Taylor Case

Former police officer Brett Hankison has received a sentence of 33 months in prison for violating the civil rights of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was shot and killed during a police raid in March 2020. The ruling was made by US District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings on Monday, rejecting a sentencing recommendation from the Trump administration‘s Justice Department that sought only a single day of imprisonment for Hankison.

Hankison was part of a police operation that employed a no-knock warrant at Taylor’s home in Louisville, Kentucky. During the raid, Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, believing they were intruders, fired a legally owned firearm at the officers. The police responded with gunfire, resulting in Taylor’s death, which, alongside the killing of George Floyd, ignited widespread protests across the United States demanding racial justice and police accountability.

In her statement, Judge Jennings criticized the Justice Department for what she termed a “180-degree” shift in their approach to the case. She indicated that political factors might have influenced their recommendation for a minimal sentence. “This sentence will not and cannot be measured against Ms Taylor’s life and the incident as a whole,” Jennings remarked, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

The 33-month sentence is on the lower end of the federal guidelines, which suggest a range of 33 to 41 months. Nonetheless, it is significantly harsher than the one-day sentence proposed by federal prosecutors.

Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, along with other family members, appeared in court to advocate for a more severe penalty. Palmer expressed her grief, stating, “A piece of me was taken from me that day. You have the power to make today the first day of true accountability.”

Hankison was convicted by a federal jury in November 2022 for one count of violating Taylor’s civil rights, after an initial prosecution attempt resulted in a mistrial. He had previously been acquitted of state charges in 2022. In a brief statement to the court, Hankison expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he would have acted differently had he been aware of the issues surrounding the preparation of the search warrant. “I never would have fired my gun,” he asserted.

The Justice Department’s sentencing memo downplayed Hankison’s role in the raid, asserting that he “did not shoot Ms Taylor and is not otherwise responsible for her death.” This memo was not signed by any career prosecutors involved in the case, raising concerns about its authenticity and intent. It was submitted by Harmeet Dhillon, a political appointee leading the Justice Department’s civil rights division, and her counsel, Robert Keenan.

This recommendation reflects a broader trend during the Trump administration, which has sought to limit police accountability measures. Earlier this year, Dhillon halted plans for a court-approved settlement with the Louisville Police Department and rescinded prior findings of systemic civil rights abuses against people of color.

Attorneys representing Taylor’s family have condemned the Justice Department’s sentencing recommendation for Hankison as an insult, urging the court to deliver “true justice” for her. The ramifications of this case continue to resonate, highlighting the ongoing struggle for accountability within law enforcement in the United States.