Pittsburgh ordinance would force police officers to cooperate with review board investigations

A Pittsburgh agency that investigates complaints of improper police conduct would have more power to force officer cooperation, under new legislation proposed Tuesday.

The bill introduced during a city council meeting by Councilman Ricky Burgess 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 Pittsburgh’s Citizen Police Review Board powers. The board is an independent agency created and funded by Pittsburgh.

Burgess said the legislation would require officers and police bureau personnel to cooperate “fully” during an investigation. Refusal would be grounds for firing.

The bill would also require the police chief and public safety director to hold off on any disciplinary action against an officer being investigated by CPRB until the investigation is over.

“Presently those two things do not occur,” Burgess said. “Officers do not participate in a CPRB investigation when they choose not to and the chief can make decisions and final determinations without reviewing the CPRB’s recommendations.”

Robert Swartzwelder, president of Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge 1, said the CPRB already has the power to force cooperation as outlined in the bill.

“The city can demand that police officers fully cooperate with any internal investigation,” he said. “Failure to cooperate fully is grounds for immediate termination. The only concern is if the CPRB is supposed to be completely independent of the city or anyone else, why do they need more powers? The CPRB answers only to citizens and not to any government agency.”

CPRB Executive Director Beth Pittinger said the ordinance could help expedite investigations by permitting immediate access to evidence gathered by the city’s Office of Municipal Investigations. The CPRB under current rules must wait until OMI concludes an investigation before it can review evidence, including statements by officers and witnesses, she said.

“Anything that empowers the board to expedite their work is a very important and positive thing,” Pittinger said.

Mayor Bill Peduto’s Office was reviewing the bills and had no immediate comment.

The ordinance is among a series of reforms that Burgess and Councilman R. Daniel Lavelle, council’s only two Black representatives, have proposed in recent months to counteract racism and inequality in the city.

Burgess earlier this month proposed bills aimed at reforming the police bureau. Among other things, the legislation would enact a police hiring freeze and redirect $250,000 remaining in a budget for new police recruits to a crime and violence reduction fund.

On Tuesday, he proposed a separate bill that would require an increased effort to improve minority populated neighborhoods by providing violence prevention, social service, workforce and entrepreneurial development programs; economic development opportunities for residents and low-income housing. It also affirms a commitment by Pittsburgh to stand in solidarity with national Black Lives Matter and Black Communities Matter movements, he said.

“Its actually beginning to target and intensify community investment in African American communities,” Burgess said. “It’s a matter of resources and money. It’s not a matter of anything other than that. Over 60 percent of the Black residents in Pittsburgh live in majority African American communities. If we want to invest in them, we need to invest in those communities.”