Pittsburgh Council hears public testimony on bill to expand police review board power

Pittsburgh City Council plans to amend a bill that would give the city’s Citizen Police Review Board more power to investigate police misconduct and civil rights complaints against officers, one of the sponsors said Wednesday during a virtual public hearing.

Councilman Ricky Burgess said he is working with Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration, the police bureau and review board to craft the amendment.

“I hope to present to council soon a compromise piece of legislation that all parties — the administration, the police, the review board and council as a whole — can support,” Burgess said.

The bill introduced last month requires an amendment to Pittsburgh’s Home Rule Charter and approval by city voters. It would authorize a ballot question during the November election asking voters if they support expanding Citizen Police Review Board powers. The board is an independent agency created and funded by Pittsburgh.

As it stands now, the bill would require officers and police bureau personnel to cooperate “fully” during an investigation. Refusal would be grounds for firing. It would require the police chief and public safety director to hold off on any disciplinary action against an officer being investigated by the review board until the investigation is over. It would also require the city controller to conduct regular performance audits of the review board.

Four of six people who testified during the 40-minute hearing said they would support the referendum. One said she was opposed and another said he had concerns.

Tim Stevens, a longtime civil rights activist and chairman of Pittsburgh-based Black Political Empowerment Project, said he was concerned the bill could be “exerting the city’s influence where it does not currently exist.”

“In this case language sounds good, but I’m concerned that maybe the result might be negative,” Stevens said. “It sounds good when you say in the legislation to expand the powers. I’m concerned about the possibility of infringing on the powers of the board versus the City of Pittsburgh.”

Mary Young of Pittsburgh agreed.

“I fully support the CPRB, especially its independence,” Young said. “This proposal to me actually has the potential to limit the board’s success, not enhance it. For this reason I’m opposed to this proposal.”

Council President Theresa Kail-Smith and Councilwoman Erika Strassburger questioned whether some provisions of the legislation were necessary.

“It is my understanding that they already do have some of the powers that are within this legislation,” Kail-Smith said. “I also think that we should make sure that we’re sitting down with (CPRB Executive Director Beth Pittinger) because she has been doing this for a very long time.”

Burgess said he plans to continue meeting with Pittinger and other involved parties.

Council has not scheduled a vote on the legislation.