The sounds of car honks filled downtown London as residents continued their fight for change in the wake of Doug Harless' killing. On December 23, 2024, Harless, 63, was gunned down when London police raided his home at 511 Vanzant Road just before midnight as part of the search for a stolen weed eater.
Attorneys for Harless' family claim officers forcibly entered Harless' home and opened fire. The family describes Harless as a maintenance worker with no criminal history who was not a suspect in the weed eater investigation.
Lilly resident Rick Coffman, who runs a Facebook group called Justice for Laurel County, participated in the protest, urging accountability and transparency.
Former London resident Kelly Gibson, who left the area in 2020 to find work during the COVID pandemic, also attended the rally with her children and young grandchildren, who still live in London.
Gibson said the Harless killing has made her family uneasy.
Jamie Burns, a friend of the Harless family who worked with his daughter, has been organizing protests and candlelight vigils to keep the case in front of the public. Burns aims to generate more awareness about the status of the nine-month-old investigation by the Kentucky State Police, which has yielded little to no public information, according to critics.
Saturday's event was held directly in front of the London City Police Department, with demonstrators demanding not only answers, but policy changes — from increased training to greater efficiency.
The protest came on the heels of the new developments in the case, with the family filing a lawsuit on September 10 in Laurel Circuit Court against the London City Police Department, several officers, as well as the city of London. The legal challenge claims Harless' constitutional rights were violated, and alleges unlawful search, excessive force, gross negligence, assault and battery, and wrongful death.
Newly-appointed London mayor Tracie Handley, who replaced Randall Weddle after his recent impeachment, called for an update on the Harless investigation from the Kentucky State Police not long after assuming office.
Weddle was impeached just over a week ago following a tense hearing outlining allegations against him, including taking action without city approval and making improper appointments.
In formal correspondence with the KSP commissioner, Handley pushed for more information, stating that Harless' death has created "profound and lasting damage to the fabric of our community," adding that some citizens "live in fear and mistrust of law enforcement."
The shooting happened under Weddle's administration, contributing to the turmoil surrounding his tenure. Protesters have been attending monthly city council meetings.
In a phone interview with WUKY, Handley did not elaborate on the case itself, but said of the KSP probe: "This has gone on for too long. The family needs answers. The community needs answers. It's time to wrap it up and let us know what is going on."
WUKY also reached out to Kentucky State Police Post 11 Commander Robert Purdy, who said additional information regarding the case was unavailable at this time.
In a statement, KSP spokesperson Sherry Bray said the agency "understands the importance of the case for all parties involved" and is "committed to conducting a thorough investigation and detectives are meticulously reviewing all aspects of the incident."
KSP has confirmed that the results will be submitted to the prosecutor for review upon completion.
Despite growing division and political tensions, Burns said she remains committed to keeping the pressure on officials and holding memorials for Harless. Still, she said the events have left her "nervous" for her community.
Harless' family was not in attendance at Saturday's demonstration due to the ongoing litigation, though Burns said Harless' relatives continue to suffer profound grief over the loss.
Coffman, who has experienced his own legal issues in London and claims his constitutional rights were violated, said he's contemplated leaving the town. But the response from citizens in the Harless case has given him a renewed sense of faith in London.
Gibson, meanwhile, remains hopeful the ongoing protests will garner attention across the state and even the nation — drawing parallels with the demonstrations that kept the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor in the headlines. Gibson says she wants to see more involvement from Gov. Andy Beshear.
Coffman is also committing to continuing to push, saying he's doing it "for Doug Harless, his family, for himself, and for all of London."