Officer Sentenced to 33 Months in Breonna Taylor Raid, Despite DOJ Push for One-Day Term

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brett Hankison, a former Louisville police officer, will serve 33 months in federal prison for violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights during a 2020 raid that ended in her death.

The sentence, delivered by Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings, came despite the Justice Department’s recommendation of just one day in prison. That suggestion, made under the Trump administration, drew sharp criticism from Taylor’s family and supporters.

“There was no prosecution in there for Breonna,” said Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother. “But I’m grateful the judge gave some time. We could’ve walked away with nothing.”

DOJ’s Shift Sparks Backlash

Although Hankison faced a maximum life sentence, prosecutors proposed a one-day term. Jennings, who was appointed by Trump, rejected the lenient request. She questioned whether the recommendation had been influenced by politics.

This sentencing follows a conviction secured under President Biden’s Justice Department. In 2023, a jury found Hankison guilty of using excessive force by blindly firing ten shots into Taylor’s apartment.

First Officer to Be Sentenced in Taylor Case

Hankison is the first officer to receive prison time related to the case. Kelly Goodlett, another officer involved, pleaded guilty to falsifying warrant information. She will be sentenced next year.

In court, Hankison apologized. He said he would not have fired his weapon if he had known the warrant was flawed. Investigators later confirmed that his bullets did not hit anyone. The fatal shots were fired by Officer Myles Cosgrove, who was never indicted.

Breonna Taylor’s Death and Public Outcry

Taylor, a 26-year-old Black medical worker, was at home during the no-knock raid. Officers entered her apartment while executing a warrant for her ex-boyfriend. Her current partner, Kenneth Walker, believed they were intruders and fired one shot. Officers responded with 32 rounds, six of which hit Taylor.

There has been debate over whether officers announced themselves. A New York Times report noted that out of a dozen neighbors, only one heard them say “Police.”

Following her death, Louisville paid $12 million to Taylor’s family and agreed to implement policing reforms.

Further Allegations Against Hankison

After his indictment, a woman filed a lawsuit accusing Hankison of using his position to sexually assault her in 2018. Other women have made similar claims, saying he preyed on them at bars and later coerced them.