Bryan Gillis, the Louisville Metro Police detective who arrested No. 1 world-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler before the second round of the PGA Championship, went to school in Springfield.
According to documents obtained by the USA Today Network, Gillis attended Kickapoo High School and Ozarks Technical Community College. The dates he attended Kickapoo, where he earned his diploma, were redacted but he attended OTC from 1996-97 and did not receive a certificate or degree.
Gillis arrested Scheffler early Friday morning and the detective has since been at the center of the arrest. Gillis’ personnel file, obtained under Kentucky’s open records law, found that he was previously suspended for performing “donuts” with an “intoxicated civilian” in his police vehicle in a business parking lot and for missing court dates.
Additionally, Detective Bryan Gillis — who was directing traffic following a fatal accident at the time of the encounter with Scheffler — was involved in four “at fault” accidents while operating LMPD vehicles. In two of those instances, he was ordered to take mandatory driver’s training.
Scottie Scheffler’s arrest during the PGA Championship: What happened?
Gillis, who has been with LMPD for nearly 17 years, was directing traffic near Gate 1 of the Valhalla Golf Club early Friday morning after a pedestrian was killed by a shuttle bus. Gillis came into contact with Scheffler as the golfer made his way to compete in the PGA Championship.
According to an arrest citation, Scheffler was driving eastbound in a marked PGA player vehicle toward Gate 1 when he pulled into a westbound lane, “where outbound traffic was flowing,” to bypass the backup caused by the collision.
Gillis was “in the middle of the westbound lanes, in full uniform and a hi-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket,” when he stopped Scheffler and “attempted to give instructions,” the citation said.
LMPD alleged Scheffler “refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground. Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling and abrasions to his left wrist and knee.”
What is in Bryan Gillis’ discipline record?
In September 2013, then-LMPD Chief Steve Conrad suspended Gillis for five days for an incident the previous December, in which Gillis allegedly drove an “intoxicated civilian” in his vehicle while doing “donuts.”
“You violated Standard Operating Procedure 5.1.3 Conduct Unbecoming when you drove an intoxicated civilian in your police vehicle while on duty in a “Code 3” fashion in a non-emergency situation and proceeded to doing “donuts” in a business parking lot,” Conrad wrote.
He added: “Any further violations of this nature will warrant severe discipline.”
In LMPD’s current Standard Operating Procedure, a “Code 3” is defined as an emergency response that may be used in the presence of many factors, including authorized vehicle pursuits, an officer injured or in danger of injury and traffic accidents resulting in serious physical injuries or hazardous conditions.
Gillis has been suspended for missing court appearances at least three times, while also receiving a letter of reprimand over missing court.
His last suspension for missing court came in 2012, when he was suspended for four days.
The detective, who is currently with LMPD’s traffic unit, has been involved in four “at fault” accidents while driving department vehicles.
His most recent one was in May 2021. He was given an oral reprimand for that accident.
In 2008 and 2014, Gillis was ordered to take driver’s training over accidents.
Also in 2021, Gillis received a letter of reprimand over an incident in which he “pursued a vehicle that did not commit a violent felony or (was) wanted on a warrant” and failed to notify MetroSafe before initiating pursuit.
The USA TODAY Network contributed to this report
