Louisville, KY. – The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) announced Thursday that it has initiated both administrative and criminal investigations into a recent crash involving Officer Begel. The department stated that once the investigations are complete, the findings will be submitted to the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for review and recommendations.
The incident, which has garnered significant attention, occurred last week and has raised serious questions about the officer’s conduct at the time of the crash. A witness to the collision, who spoke with WDRB, described Officer Begel as driving at an extremely high speed and without any lights or sirens activated. Video footage from the scene shows Begel speeding past nearly ten vehicles, including one driven by 20-year-old Brandon Branson, just 20 seconds before the crash occurred, which involved Briscoe’s black Cadillac.
When asked by WDRB whether Begel had been driving without lights and sirens, LMPD initially referred to its critical incident policy but did not directly answer the question. However, later clarification from a department spokesperson confirmed that Officer Begel’s emergency equipment had not been activated at the time of the crash.
LMPD policy permits officers to be exempt from certain traffic regulations when responding to an emergency. However, it also emphasizes that officers must drive with due regard for the safety of all individuals, regardless of their exemption. This policy is at the center of ongoing scrutiny, particularly after Branson, who witnessed the crash, expressed concern over the speed at which Begel passed other drivers. “I see officers speed past civilians all the time, but at the rate of speed she passed everyone, I was very surprised that she didn’t have any lights on,” Branson said.
Branson further speculated that if Officer Begel had been driving at a slower speed or had her lights activated, the outcome of the incident might have been different. As of now, the exact speed at which Begel was traveling remains unclear.
The LMPD is treating the crash as a “critical incident,” a designation typically reserved for incidents such as police shootings that result in significant consequences. As part of the protocol for such incidents, the department has pledged to release any body or dash camera footage related to the crash within 10 business days, a process that is already underway.
In the wake of the crash, the LMPD also released Begel’s personnel file, which provides additional context about her history with the department. Begel, who was hired in October 2022, has received 22 commendations throughout her tenure, but she also has three reprimands for disciplinary reasons. One particularly notable incident occurred in October 2023, when Begel was found “at fault” in another car accident. She was subsequently disciplined in April 2024 with a verbal reprimand.
Begel, who was hospitalized following the crash, was released from the hospital on April 4. As the investigations continue, questions remain about whether her actions during the incident align with LMPD’s policies and whether the department’s guidelines were properly followed.
The results of the ongoing investigations, along with the upcoming release of body camera footage, are expected to provide more clarity on the circumstances surrounding the crash and how it will be handled moving forward.
