Laurel County, Kentucky officials have formally requested a federal investigation into the December 2024 death of Douglas “Doug” Harless, who was shot by a London Police Department officer while officers were executing a search warrant at his home. The request, made in a letter dated February 23, 2026, was sent to the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
The move follows a February 20, 2026 decision by a Laurel County grand jury to decline to indict any officer involved in the shooting. Harless, a 63-year-traditional Lily, Kentucky resident and maintenance worker, died inside his residence on December 23, 2024. The case was presented to the grand jury after a year-long investigation conducted by the Kentucky State Police and overseen by Special Prosecutor Matthew Leveridge of Wayne County.
Laurel County Judge Executive David Westerfield, in his letter, expressed concerns about the limited information released regarding the incident and the potential for similar events to occur. “Many residents of Laurel County have expressed their fear and uncertainty following the announcement of no indictment,” Westerfield wrote. “The people of Laurel County are concerned, as are the undersigned elected officials. The limited information available regarding this incident leads us to believe that something of this nature could happen again to anyone in this community, and justice, as we have witnessed in this case, may fall under question.”
The request for federal intervention underscores the ongoing unease within the community following the grand jury’s decision. Local officials are seeking further scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding Harless’s death, citing a lack of transparency and a fear that the incident could be repeated. The London City Council has publicly acknowledged the grand jury process but has not commented on the call for a federal investigation.
As of February 24, 2026, the FBI and the Department of Justice have not publicly responded to the request for an investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky has also not issued a statement regarding the matter.
