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Protest signs at the memorial for Breonna Taylor in Louisville
Photo: BRYAN WOOLSTON / REUTERS
Six months after the killing of the African-American woman Breonna Taylor in a police operation, the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA, has settled the civil lawsuit with a high severance payment.
Taylor's family will receive $ 12 million, Mayor Greg Fischer said.
The agreement also provides for binding reforms of the police in Louisville, said Fischer.
For example, the issuing of search warrants should be more strictly controlled.
The 26-year-old Taylor was fatally shot in March after an exchange of fire between Taylor's partner and the police.
The police had previously entered Taylor's apartment shortly after midnight without warning.
According to the Reuters news agency, they were allowed to enter the apartment without prior notice through an arrest warrant.
Criminal proceedings are still pending
Furthermore, the reforms are intended, among other things, to closely monitor every use of force by police officers and, if necessary, to investigate it by a newly created control authority.
With the help of a new program, police officers should also be able to be accompanied by social workers during operations.
The criminal proceedings with the decision on a possible charge against the police officers responsible for Taylor's death are still pending, said Fischer.
"The truth has to come out," said the mayor.
Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, said the settlement was "just the beginning to get justice for Breonna".
A family lawyer, Lonita Baker, said it had always been about more than compensation.
The police reforms are a starting point to fight structural racism in the city.
Another lawyer, Ben Crump, said the family payment was the largest ever settlement payment in the United States for a police-induced black death.
Crump, who also represents the family of the slain African American George Floyd, demanded that the officers responsible should be arrested and charged "immediately".
Most recently, only one of the officers involved was dismissed from service.
The brutal and videotaped killing of Floyd in late May sparked nationwide protests against racism and police violence.
It was only the indignation after Floyd's death that made Taylor's case known nationwide.
Since then, many politicians and celebrities have been demanding charges in the case.
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fek / dpa / Reuters