KEY POINTS

  • Myles Cosgrove, who shot Breonna Taylor in her home and was not charged with a crime, now seeks $75,000 to retire early
  • The online campaign says that the media has "lied by omission" and created a situation where he cannot resume work and must focus on the safety of his family
  • A suit filed Monday by a member of the grand jury that opted not to charge him alleges that jurors were not presented with the full range of options against the officers

The detective who fatally shot Breonna Taylor is trying to raise $75,000 online for his early retirement, with the post saying the media's coverage has “no regard for the lives that are being destroyed.”

Louisville (Ky.) Metro Police Det. Myles Cosgrove was not charged last week for Taylor's death.

The online campaign says: “It will be impossible for Myles to safely return to his position serving the community with the Louisville Metro Police Department. We hope to raise enough funds to help him purchase the remainder of his service time, or ‘air-time,’ so that he can retire from the LMPD and continue to focus on the safety of his family.”

The post did try to strike some balance by saying it is important to listen to all voices in the community. It focused, however, on the “countless threats” to Cosgrove's family and on praising Cosgrove as someone who “has always had a desire to help people."

Cosgrove killed Taylor by shooting at her from her doorway after her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot at them. Walker has said he thought it was a home invasion because the police knocking on their door wouldn’t identify themselves before breaking the door off its hinges. Police involved insist that they announced themselves before entering the apartment.

Thus far the campaign has raised $9,399 with 110 contributors. Daphne Fischer gave $25 and said, “You did your job, don't let the BLM terrorists and others get to you.”

Police confront protesters in Louisville after charges were announced in the Breonna Taylor case
Police confront protesters in Louisville after charges were announced in the Breonna Taylor case AFP / Jeff Dean

A grand jury announced Sept. 23 that neither Cosgrove nor Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, the other officer shooting at Taylor, would be charged. The only criminal charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against former detective Brett Hankison for putting Taylor’s neighbors in harm’s way when his bullets went into their apartment.

The decision kicked off widespread protests. Later that night two police officers were shot. A suit filed Monday by one of the jurors alleges that they were not presented with the full range of options when deciding who would be charged and with what.

The office of Attorney General Daniel Cameron almost immediately granted their motion, giving them permission to speak publicly and saying that the full recording of their deliberation would be released. Cameron has asked for another week to release the recording.

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