It is beyond time. Lexington mayor, council and police union need to act on police violence.

It is beyond time.

The protesters have played their part, marching tirelessly, and for the most part, peacefully every night to end police brutality.

The rank and file police have also played their part, listening to prayers and profanity alike as they bear the brunt of protesters’ anger and frustration.

But it’s been more than two weeks. Tempers are fraying and patience is running out on both sides. Now it is beyond time for Mayor Linda Gorton, the Urban County Council and the Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge #4 to act.

The council has made a good first step in scheduling a meeting on Tuesday with the public safety committee to talk about what exactly they have the power to change, and what is protected in the voluminous and constrictive contract between the union and the city. Frankly, the mayor and council members should have made a move a week ago when the protesters’ determination to be heard became clear.

“People are tired of words and ready for action,” council member James Brown acknowledged Monday. “But our process started with words and that’s the frustrating part.”

The protesters want changes to the police contract, which runs out on June 30. But the first meeting hasn’t even begun because both sides haven’t come to the table, partly because of COVID-19, which has made lengthy meetings difficult and partly because there’s no incentive for police to start what are usually negotiations over salary increases when the city is broke. The current contract is allowed to stand until a new one is crafted.

This is nonsense. Technology exists for remote meetings, as we’ve all learned. The city should press harder and the union should step up. Police unions are getting a big black eye in the nation right now for their resistance, and Bluegrass Lodge should avoid the same fate by stepping up to take some responsibility for systemic change.

A few hours after this editorial was posted, Gorton announced a moratorium on no-knock warrants, the controversial practice rarely used in Lexington that allowed Louisville police to barge into Breonna Taylor’s apartment. That’s a good and obvious first step. Although Taylor’s killers have not yet been disciplined, the Louisville City Council has already banned this process. Police could also make important changes to training as trainees are not covered by the contract. They could pledge to work with the legislative delegation to make the many changes needed in state law, such as the requirement that police discipline cases stay confidential until they are closed.

We need to see the leadership required to convince everyone that change is on the way. This issue has been avoided long enough. It’s been nearly three weeks since the protests began over the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Now we see the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks by Atlanta police on Sunday, and in Lexington, two additional incidents that cause grave concern: Two innocent teenagers were brutally treated by Kentucky State Police and Lexington officers, and Daezon Morgan was killed by an alleged drunk driver, leading to serious questions of how the suspect was treated compared to grieving family and friends.

Lexington’s leaders in the government and the police should now show good faith. Take what action you can and work on what’s left. It is beyond time to act.

This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 2:05 PM.