Fwd: Pittsburgh City Councilmen Introduce Police Reform Legislation

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From: City of Pittsburgh <pressrelease@pittsburghpa.gov>
Date: Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 2:56 PM
Subject: Pittsburgh City Councilmen Introduce Police Reform Legislation
To: <mark.rauterkus@gmail.com>

Published: 06.09.2020 Contact: Daniel Wood D6 Staff District 6 412-255-2134 daniel.wood@pittsburghpa.gov
Pittsburgh City Councilmen Introduce Police Reform Legislation On Tuesday June 9, 2020, Councilman Lavelle, together with Councilman Burgess, introduced four pieces of legislation aimed at reforming the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. They include: Establishing a Hiring Freeze in the Bureau of Police: This legislation will defund the Police Recruit and First-Year Police Officer line items in the Bureau's 2020 Budget. Requiring the Demilitarization of the Police: This legislation bans the purchase of surplus U.S. military equipment and weapons by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Establishing a Duty to Intervene: This legislation requires ALL police officers to step in and stop other police officers from using illegal or unnecessary force or any other violation of a person's constitutional right.  It also requires those officers to immediately report the incident to whoever in the chain of command it is necessary to report. Establishing STOP THE VIOLENCE Fund: This legislation requires the city to dedicate dollars, equal to 10% of the Police Budget, annually for funding evidence based violence prevention social service programs.   "During these times, it is critically important that we not only acknowledge the voices of those marching in the streets but also provide a legislative platform for them to directly engage in the governance and policing of our city," Councilman Lavelle noted upon introduction of these measures. "The idea that more policing can solve a broad range of community problems is misguided. What our communities need, particularly communities of color, is more direct investment in things like: affordable housing, better education, counseling for trauma and addiction, youth development, workforce development, and public transit." Councilman Bugress pointed to the twin public health crises affecting the country, "institutional racism and violence by the police against people of color.  African-Americans are two-and-a-half times more likely to be killed by a police officer than white people. We must reform policing practices and policies which far too often result in the deaths of unarmed African-Americans. The best way to improve public safety is not just additional police officers but rather by increasing the community's confidence in the police." Rev. Burgess went on to say, "We cannot ignore the outcry, both here in Pittsburgh and around the country about the unjust deaths of unarmed African-Americans like Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.  We must implement fundamental police reforms and significantly fund evidence-based violence reduction and social service programs.   It is time to have an open and inclusive conversation about the future of policing in this country and here in Pittsburgh. These first four pieces of legislation will begin that essential conversation." For further inquiries on the legislative package, please contact our office at 412-255-2134, or by email at daniel.wood@pittsburghpa.gov
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