Scottie Scheffler Arrest: Disciplinary Actions Against Officer Bryan Gillis Explored

Bryan Gillis, who arrested Scottie Scheffler, is facing ‘corrective actions’. Gillis, in violation of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s standard operating procedure of body cameras, failed to turn on his BWC. LMPD had to rely on hazy footage from the Traffic pole to determine the grounds for Scheffler’s arrest.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said in the press conference, “Detective Gillis should have turned on his body-worn camera but did not. His failure to do so is a violation of LMPD policy on uniforms and equipment.” Gwinn-Villaroel also listed the repercussions for the officer. 

What actions have been taken against Bryan Gillis?

Police officers are required to turn on their body-cam during a Code-3 response. So, the first step was to fill out the Failure to Activate Body-Worn Camera form. Gillis documented the initial contact with Scottie Scheffler, which would’ve been caught in the camera. 

In line with the initial police report, Gillis wrote, “I stopped the driver and advised him he could not proceed because of the bus: [Scheffler] demanded to be let in, and proceeded forward against my directions. I was dragged/knocked down by the driver. I then proceeded to arrest the driver.” Notably, injuring Gillis is the reason why Scheffler is faced with the charge of a 2nd-degree assault on a police officer. 

The LMPD chief said. “We understand the seriousness of the failure to capture this interaction, which is why our officer has received corrective action for this policy violation.” However, Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel didn’t detail what actions have been taken against the officer.  

The LMPD Chief also revealed that Gillis was subjected to a ‘performance observation’ and “was counseled by a member of his command on May 22, 2024.” In light of the incident, Gillis’s past records at LMPD were also circulated. His 16 years with LMPD have been dissected under a microscope and here is what has come out.

Good times and bad times, Gillis has faced them all

Previously, Gillis was suspended for five days in 2013 for “conduct unbecoming” of an officer. A memo dated from that year showed that the veteran officer was also charged for using sirens and emergency lights in a non-emergency situation. Gills then proceeded to “doing ‘donuts’ in a parking lot” with an inebriated civilian in the back of his car. 

In addition, Bryan Gillis was suspended without pay and received a written reprimand for failing to appear before court five times between 2010 and 2011. The department also deemed him to be “at fault” in four accidents. 

For two of which, in 2008 and 2013, the veteran received written reprimands and mandatory driver’s training. For 2019 and 2021, he was let go with a verbal reprimand. Additionally, in 2021, Gillis pursued “a vehicle that did not commit a violent felony or wanted on a warrant.” Notably, the records also show Gillis has received several letters of commendation. One letter praised him for going ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty.