POLICE STEERING COMMITTEE
July 14, 2026 6:00 PM EST
Location: St. Matthews City Hall (2nd Floor Conference Room)
3940 Grandview Ave.
Minutes
1. Called the Meeting to Order: Chief Barry Wilkerson (Chair) called the meeting to order at 6:11 P.M. EST
2. Roll Call – Chief Barry S. Wilkerson, Major Leon E. Jones , Jr, Major Anthony J. Cobaugh, Mayor Richard J. Tonini, Councilmember Benard F. Bowling, Jr., Councilmember Timothy Holland
Also in attendance: Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
3. Approval of Minutes (5/13/2026)
a. Councilmember Bowling made a motion to accept the minutes.
b. Second: Councilmember Holland
c. Vote: Motion carried unanimously
4. New Business
a. Dog Scanners- Ms. Monk donated 2 free handheld dog scanners to SMPD. They will be put in cars running the A & B beats (residential areas). If a lost pet is chipped, the police will be given the owners information to reunite the pet and owner. A stationary device can be purchased for less than $200. The device would be put in Brown Park for pets to be scanned. The owner’s information would not be given to someone scanning the pet. The service would contact the owner to retrieve their pet.
b. Applications- The department has received 7 applications for 1 full-time position and applications for the 2 part-time positions.
c. Drones- The current drone budget is $15,000. The need is $26,000 a year for 5 years. The subscription price includes insurance and the drone being replaces as new technology is developed.
d. Car Accident- An officer was involved in a car accident. He was hit by a new driver; he was not at fault.
e. Crime- Car thefts have been down recently. The “pop-up” party in St. Matthews Station was in Louisville and handled by the LMPD, with SMPD acting in support. The police were given a tip about a street racing event to happen in the Mall St. Matthews parking lot. LMPD and SMPD were there and although a few cars showed up the racing event was deterred.
f. ABC Ordinance- Our ABC Ordinance dictates the Chief of Police, the Mayor, and the ABC officer and any police officer can do an ABC inspection. The Chief would like ABC training for all the officers.
5. Meeting Adjournment
a. Motion: Councilmember Holland made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
b. Second: Mayor Tonini
c. Vote: The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting concluded at 6:47 P.M. EST
Barry S. Wilkerson, Chief of Police, Chair
Attest:
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
