LMPD Lt. Caleb Stewart appeals Merit Board ruling tied to handling of 2023 use-of-force investigation

Louisville Metro Police Department Lt. Caleb Stewart has filed an appeal after the Louisville Metro Police Merit Board determined he violated department policy in the way he handled a use-of-force investigation involving a downtown hotel incident in 2023, according to reporting from WAVE. The case centers on the department’s review process after an encounter that was captured on video at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Louisville.

The investigation involved a homeless man who was accused of stealing from the hotel, and the use-of-force that followed. WAVE reported that video from the hotel shows former-Officer Jay Moss grabbing the man by the throat before taking him to the ground. The footage, captured at the hotel, became central to how the department addressed the incident.

Under Louisville’s civil service structure, police merit boards hear certain disciplinary matters and may issue findings related to whether employees followed applicable policies and procedures. In this case, the Merit Board ruled that Stewart violated policy in his role handling the subsequent investigation, prompting Stewart to seek review.

Stewart’s appeal challenges the Merit Board’s decision regarding his conduct in managing the investigation rather than the underlying incident alone. The appeal is part of the formal process for contesting findings made by the Merit Board in disciplinary matters, which can affect the employee’s status and compliance record within the department.

The WAVE report places the dispute within the department’s broader accountability system for use-of-force incidents. Public safety agencies commonly rely on internal investigations, supervisory oversight, and documented policy steps to ensure that force decisions and officer conduct are reviewed consistently and in accordance with established standards.

The next procedural step depends on how the appeal is handled under Louisville’s Merit Board rules and any subsequent review process following the filing. Until the appeal is resolved, the Merit Board’s ruling remains the controlling determination in the matter that Stewart is contesting, while Stewart pursues correction of that finding through the designated appeal process.

The case underscores how Louisville’s oversight mechanism can focus on investigation handling, not only on the force used during an encounter. For the public, it is another example of how documentation, supervisory responsibility, and policy compliance can become central issues when use-of-force investigations are reviewed.