Brett Hankison, a former Kentucky police officer, was sentenced on 2024-MM-DD to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights by using excessive force during a raid on her home that resulted in her death on 2020-MM-DD. A federal jury found him guilty in November 2024. This sentencing contrasts sharply with a one-day sentence requested by the Trump administration, a position the Biden administration did not support. Hankison is the only officer directly charged and convicted in connection with the raid. Another former officer, Kelly Goodlett, pleaded guilty to falsifying the affidavit used to obtain the search warrant and will be sentenced next year.

Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, expressed mixed feelings, praising the judge's decision but criticizing federal prosecutors for seeking a lesser sentence. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, stated he was "grateful for the small piece of justice." The raid, which involved a "no-knock" warrant, led to the shooting of Taylor by officers who fired 32 bullets into her apartment after Walker fired a shot, believing them to be intruders. Hankison fired ten shots, none of which hit Taylor, but did enter a neighboring apartment.

The differing sentencing recommendations highlight the contrasting approaches of the Biden and Trump administrations to police accountability. The Trump administration's recommendation, signed by Trump's appointee Harmeet Dhillon, sparked outrage from Taylor's family and others. This case, along with the dismissals of lawsuits against police departments and changes in the Justice Department under Trump, indicate a shift in the federal government's approach to police misconduct investigations and accountability.

Impact Statement: The sentencing, and the contrasting positions of the Biden and Trump administrations, underscore ongoing debates about police brutality, racial justice, and accountability within law enforcement.