Jurors will decide this week whether Richard Poplawski will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole for the 2009 murder of three Pittsburgh Police Officers.
The jury will weigh the prosecution’s “aggravating factors” against the defense’s “mitigating factors” when making their decision.
Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquili says there are three reasons the death penalty is right in this case: first, Poplawski did not stop killing after the first murder; second, the three victims were all policemen; and third, many other people, including neighbors and police officers, were put at risk of death.
Defense attorney Bill Brennan says the three mitigating factors he’s arguing for are not excuses for Poplawski’s crime, but suggest he should receive a life term in prison rather than a death sentence.
Brennan says Poplawski was 21 at the time of the shooting, three years above the age line for applying the death penalty. He says Poplawski also had no prior criminal history, and the shooter had an abusive family relationship, including an “evil” and “racist” grandfather who would regularly threaten the family with guns.
Tranquili has planned for many “victim impact” witnesses to testify about the lingering effects of the crime; Brennan has planned for the gunman’s mother and grandmother to tell the jury about Poplawski's turbulent family history.
Julia Sciullo, the mother of slain Officer Paul Sciullo, was the first to testify for the prosecution. She says Officer Sciullo's death has changed her family life dramatically.
"This wonderful man, this wonderful life is now gone," says Mrs. Sciullo. "We will never have closure with this... This trial is just one of many high mountains we have to climb."
Officer Sciullo's sister, Julia Mullen, was next to speak to the jury. Mullen says Paul was the father figure to her son David, and visited her family "every single night."
"I will never again be the person I was on April 3, 2009," says Mullen.
The death penalty or a life prison term are the only possible sentences for Poplawski.
Showing posts with label Pittsburgh Police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pittsburgh Police. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Poplawski Found Guilty
It took a jury just more than three hours of deliberations to find 24-year-old Richard Poplawski guilty in the 2009 killings of three Pittsburgh police officers. The verdict came after a week of testimony where jurors heard gruesome details of the shootings of officers Eric Kelly, Paul Sciullo, and Stephen Mayhle.
Poplawski was found guilty of first-degree murder in all three killings. He was also found guilty of 25 other lesser crimes.
The officers were responding to a 911 call from Poplawski’s mother who said she and her son were arguing in the home they shared. When officers arrived, Poplawski opened fire and held police at bay for hours. The trial now enters the penalty phase in which the jury will hear evidence about Poplawski’s mental state, background and other factors before determining if he will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
The jury was selected from Dauphin County and brought in to hear the case. The jury has been sequestered since being brought to Pittsburgh.
The defense never called a witness but did use its closing arguments to hint that Poplawski’s mother Margret was not involved. The mother has never been charged but was in the home throughout the standoff.
Poplawski was found guilty of first-degree murder in all three killings. He was also found guilty of 25 other lesser crimes.
The officers were responding to a 911 call from Poplawski’s mother who said she and her son were arguing in the home they shared. When officers arrived, Poplawski opened fire and held police at bay for hours. The trial now enters the penalty phase in which the jury will hear evidence about Poplawski’s mental state, background and other factors before determining if he will receive the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
The jury was selected from Dauphin County and brought in to hear the case. The jury has been sequestered since being brought to Pittsburgh.
The defense never called a witness but did use its closing arguments to hint that Poplawski’s mother Margret was not involved. The mother has never been charged but was in the home throughout the standoff.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Poplawski Trial Continues
The homicide trial of Richard Poplawski resumed today with more testimony from the Pittsburgh Police. The 24-year-old Stanton Heights man is accused of killing three city policemen and endangering many more.
SWAT Team Leader Steven Mescan says he led an improvised rescue of Officers Eric Kelly and Timothy McManaway, who were lying injured outside Poplawski’s Fairfield Street home. Kelly later died of his wounds.
Mescan also gave a detailed account of the SWAT operations to retrieve the bodies of the other two officers killed that day, Steven Mayhle and Paul Sciullo.
The SWAT officer says his unit surrounded the Poplawski house to make sure nobody could escape the scene. Mescan says both a driver and a pedestrian were seen leaving the area, but police determined they weren’t involved in the incident.
A SWAT team also took Poplawski’s mother into custody when they learned she was trapped in the basement. Mescan says after almost four hours of gunfire, the suspect was brought into custody by the police and treated for a leg wound.
Before the jury appeared, Judge Jeffrey Manning ruled Poplawski’s comments to 9-1-1 operators could be admitted as evidence as long as the prosecution omitted several racial slurs. The defense had wanted those tapes to be excluded completely, while the prosecution had wanted the full statements to be replayed.
The trial is expected to continue with more testimony in the next few days.
SWAT Team Leader Steven Mescan says he led an improvised rescue of Officers Eric Kelly and Timothy McManaway, who were lying injured outside Poplawski’s Fairfield Street home. Kelly later died of his wounds.
Mescan also gave a detailed account of the SWAT operations to retrieve the bodies of the other two officers killed that day, Steven Mayhle and Paul Sciullo.
The SWAT officer says his unit surrounded the Poplawski house to make sure nobody could escape the scene. Mescan says both a driver and a pedestrian were seen leaving the area, but police determined they weren’t involved in the incident.
A SWAT team also took Poplawski’s mother into custody when they learned she was trapped in the basement. Mescan says after almost four hours of gunfire, the suspect was brought into custody by the police and treated for a leg wound.
Before the jury appeared, Judge Jeffrey Manning ruled Poplawski’s comments to 9-1-1 operators could be admitted as evidence as long as the prosecution omitted several racial slurs. The defense had wanted those tapes to be excluded completely, while the prosecution had wanted the full statements to be replayed.
The trial is expected to continue with more testimony in the next few days.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Poplawski Trial Begins
Today is the first day in the trial of Richard Poplawski, who is accused of the April 4, 2009 killing of three Pittsburgh Police Officers: Paul Sciullo, Stephen Mayhle, and Eric Kelly.
In opening arguments this morning, Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquili said he has plenty of witnesses and exhibits to prove that Poplawksi is guilty. Defense attorney Lisa Middleman said that has yet to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that there are "physical impossibilities and inconsistencies" with the story Tranquili would have the 12 jurors believe.
The jurors were selected from Dauphin County and brought to Pittsburgh last night due to pretrial publicity. They will be sequestered throughout the trial.
Tranquili says the defendant and his mother Margaret Poplawski were having an argument, so she called 9-1-1 and the officers were dispatched to the scene.
Several of the Poplawskis' Stanton Heights neighbors were called to the stand.
Joanne Devinney testified she saw the accused man holding a rifle at his Fairfield Street home on the morning the three officers were fatally shot; she says she was also able to see the bodies of Mayhle and Sciullo at the entrance to the Poplawskis' home.
Devinney says she also saw the defendant's mother smoking in the driveway, wearing a pink bathrobe, during the incident.
Alfred Lejpras says he looked out his window to see Richard Poplawski shooting the fallen body of one of the officers.
Michelle Ostrowski says she watched Kelly's white vehicle pull up to the scene, where the officer was shot as he was leaving his SUV. She says she could not see the shooter.
Pittsburgh Police Officers Wade Sarver and Timothy McManaway continued the testimony in the afternoon.
McManaway says he saw Kelly struggling on the pavement by his SUV when he arrived on the scene, so he ran to him and dragged him to cover behind the vehicle. McManaway says he then saw a woman in a bathrobe nervously smoking a cigarette in the driveway; he says she refused to take cover with him when he asked.
McManaway also gave emotional testimony as to helping his injured friend. After taking a bullet to the hand from an automatic weapon, McManaway says he did his best to help Kelly stay out of shock.
Both officers say they traded gunfire with the shooter; Sarver from a nearby tree, and McManaway from behind the SUV.
More testimony is scheduled for this evening, as well as throughout this week.
In opening arguments this morning, Deputy District Attorney Mark Tranquili said he has plenty of witnesses and exhibits to prove that Poplawksi is guilty. Defense attorney Lisa Middleman said that has yet to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and that there are "physical impossibilities and inconsistencies" with the story Tranquili would have the 12 jurors believe.
The jurors were selected from Dauphin County and brought to Pittsburgh last night due to pretrial publicity. They will be sequestered throughout the trial.
Tranquili says the defendant and his mother Margaret Poplawski were having an argument, so she called 9-1-1 and the officers were dispatched to the scene.
Several of the Poplawskis' Stanton Heights neighbors were called to the stand.
Joanne Devinney testified she saw the accused man holding a rifle at his Fairfield Street home on the morning the three officers were fatally shot; she says she was also able to see the bodies of Mayhle and Sciullo at the entrance to the Poplawskis' home.
Devinney says she also saw the defendant's mother smoking in the driveway, wearing a pink bathrobe, during the incident.
Alfred Lejpras says he looked out his window to see Richard Poplawski shooting the fallen body of one of the officers.
Michelle Ostrowski says she watched Kelly's white vehicle pull up to the scene, where the officer was shot as he was leaving his SUV. She says she could not see the shooter.
Pittsburgh Police Officers Wade Sarver and Timothy McManaway continued the testimony in the afternoon.
McManaway says he saw Kelly struggling on the pavement by his SUV when he arrived on the scene, so he ran to him and dragged him to cover behind the vehicle. McManaway says he then saw a woman in a bathrobe nervously smoking a cigarette in the driveway; he says she refused to take cover with him when he asked.
McManaway also gave emotional testimony as to helping his injured friend. After taking a bullet to the hand from an automatic weapon, McManaway says he did his best to help Kelly stay out of shock.
Both officers say they traded gunfire with the shooter; Sarver from a nearby tree, and McManaway from behind the SUV.
More testimony is scheduled for this evening, as well as throughout this week.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
More Police Accountability Measures Introduced
Pittsburgh community groups strongly support a new amendment to add more police accountability measures to a package called the “Jordan Miles Public Safety Reform Agenda.”
Chairwoman Brandi Fisher of the Alliance for Police Accountability says the amended bills would call for a code of conduct for off-duty officers, and require reports to be filed any time a citizen is frisked.
Fisher says those reports may make officers only consider pat-downs when they are absolutely necessary.
City Solicitor Dan Regan says he’s concerned that the information the bill calls for is confidential, and would be illegal for the police department to submit.
However, Council discovered that Regan had been sent the unamended version of the bill by mistake. Councilman Doug Shields says the amendments don’t require any personal information to be publicized; he says it only requires statistical data to show police performance. The legislation has been held for a week so the Solicitor can review it in the meantime.
The proposed amendments from Councilman Ricky Burgess would augment three standing police accountability bills, requiring: cameras in police cars; paid leave for officers under investigation; and the accreditation of the Pittsburgh Police.
The package was created in response to the Jordan Miles incident of January 2010. The former CAPA student was walking, unarmed, when he was forcefully accosted by three Pittsburgh policemen.
Chairwoman Brandi Fisher of the Alliance for Police Accountability says the amended bills would call for a code of conduct for off-duty officers, and require reports to be filed any time a citizen is frisked.
Fisher says those reports may make officers only consider pat-downs when they are absolutely necessary.
City Solicitor Dan Regan says he’s concerned that the information the bill calls for is confidential, and would be illegal for the police department to submit.
However, Council discovered that Regan had been sent the unamended version of the bill by mistake. Councilman Doug Shields says the amendments don’t require any personal information to be publicized; he says it only requires statistical data to show police performance. The legislation has been held for a week so the Solicitor can review it in the meantime.
The proposed amendments from Councilman Ricky Burgess would augment three standing police accountability bills, requiring: cameras in police cars; paid leave for officers under investigation; and the accreditation of the Pittsburgh Police.
The package was created in response to the Jordan Miles incident of January 2010. The former CAPA student was walking, unarmed, when he was forcefully accosted by three Pittsburgh policemen.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Activists Want a Trial
The Alliance for Police Accountability, a group that started up about a year ago, delivered an estimated 1,000 signatures to Stephen Zappala, the Allegheny County District Attorney on Friday morning urging that criminal charges be filed against the three city police officers involved in the beating of Jordan Miles. Among them was Miles' mother.
In early May, the federal Department of Justice announced that there would be no federal charges filed against the three officers who had been on paid leave from the police department, because federal prosecutors did not believe they could prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Brandi Fisher, the chair of the alliance, believes that since the federal investigation has come to a close, it is now up to Mr. Zappala to pursue the case.
"He has no reason to not prosecute," she said, saying she only wants the officers to be held accountable to the same laws all citizens are held accountable to.
DA spokesman Mike Manko said his office continues to review the matter.
Miles, then a high school student was arrested in January of 2010, on Tioga Street as he walked from his mother's home to his grandmother's.
Police had said he was acting suspicious and resisted arrest. He was brutally beaten and had hair ripped from his head.
Those charges were dropped.
In early May, the federal Department of Justice announced that there would be no federal charges filed against the three officers who had been on paid leave from the police department, because federal prosecutors did not believe they could prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Brandi Fisher, the chair of the alliance, believes that since the federal investigation has come to a close, it is now up to Mr. Zappala to pursue the case.
"He has no reason to not prosecute," she said, saying she only wants the officers to be held accountable to the same laws all citizens are held accountable to.
DA spokesman Mike Manko said his office continues to review the matter.
Miles, then a high school student was arrested in January of 2010, on Tioga Street as he walked from his mother's home to his grandmother's.
Police had said he was acting suspicious and resisted arrest. He was brutally beaten and had hair ripped from his head.
Those charges were dropped.
Click It or Ticket in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Police officers will be enforcing a “Click It or Ticket” policy from today through June 12.
The enforcement began today with a morning traffic stop on West Carson Street, near Station Square. Officers gave tickets to motorists not wearing seatbelts, and handed seatbelt information packets to everyone driving through.
Pittsburgh Police Officer Glen Aldridge says officers will be enforcing the “Click It or Ticket” policy all day and night, in all areas of the city, through Sunday, June 12.
Aldridge, a collision investigator, says he’s seen situations where seatbelts made the difference between life and death.
“Recently, I investigated a collision out in East Liberty where a car was struck. It was an SUV, and it rolled over, and two occupants were belted, and they actually walked away from the collision with no injuries whatsoever,” says Aldridge. “A few years ago, I investigated a collision of a similar nature. No-one in the vehicle was buckled. The car rolled over, one revolution, and a lady’s neck was broken. She was killed as a result.”
The Pittsburgh Policeman says he’d like to see driving without a seatbelt become a primary offense, so officers could pull over unbuckled drivers. Currently, it’s a secondary offense, meaning the driver must be pulled over for another reason before a ticket can be issued.
PennDOT Safety Press Officer Steve Cowan says last year, 524 people died in accidents without wearing seatbelts in Pennsylvania. Twenty-four of those deaths took place in Allegheny County.
The enforcement began today with a morning traffic stop on West Carson Street, near Station Square. Officers gave tickets to motorists not wearing seatbelts, and handed seatbelt information packets to everyone driving through.
Pittsburgh Police Officer Glen Aldridge says officers will be enforcing the “Click It or Ticket” policy all day and night, in all areas of the city, through Sunday, June 12.
Aldridge, a collision investigator, says he’s seen situations where seatbelts made the difference between life and death.
“Recently, I investigated a collision out in East Liberty where a car was struck. It was an SUV, and it rolled over, and two occupants were belted, and they actually walked away from the collision with no injuries whatsoever,” says Aldridge. “A few years ago, I investigated a collision of a similar nature. No-one in the vehicle was buckled. The car rolled over, one revolution, and a lady’s neck was broken. She was killed as a result.”
The Pittsburgh Policeman says he’d like to see driving without a seatbelt become a primary offense, so officers could pull over unbuckled drivers. Currently, it’s a secondary offense, meaning the driver must be pulled over for another reason before a ticket can be issued.
PennDOT Safety Press Officer Steve Cowan says last year, 524 people died in accidents without wearing seatbelts in Pennsylvania. Twenty-four of those deaths took place in Allegheny County.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Demonstrators Want Police Prosecuted
About 125 people protested Friday on the steps of the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh calling on Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala to file criminal charges against 3 white Pittsburgh Police officers in the beating of then 18 year old Jordan Miles, an African American student, in January 2010.
The rally came after the Justice Department announced Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Jordan Miles' civil rights have been violated. The following day, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper announced that the officers, Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing, who had been on paid leave for more than a year, were being reinstated.
The crowd chanted "Shame" and some held up signs including one reading "Prosecute the police" during the rally.
Brandi Fisher of the Alliance for Police Accountability says this is not about striking back at the police department...
"I have made it very clear that we are not against the police. I have made it very clear that we understand that we need the police. But I've also made it very clear that the police will not run through our neighborhoods and beat our children at will and get away with it."
There's been no word yet if the district attorney will pursue charges against the officers.
The rally came after the Justice Department announced Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Jordan Miles' civil rights have been violated. The following day, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper announced that the officers, Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing, who had been on paid leave for more than a year, were being reinstated.
The crowd chanted "Shame" and some held up signs including one reading "Prosecute the police" during the rally.
Brandi Fisher of the Alliance for Police Accountability says this is not about striking back at the police department...
"I have made it very clear that we are not against the police. I have made it very clear that we understand that we need the police. But I've also made it very clear that the police will not run through our neighborhoods and beat our children at will and get away with it."
There's been no word yet if the district attorney will pursue charges against the officers.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Jordan Miles Officers Reinstated
After spending more than a year on paid leave, the three Pittsburgh police officers involved in the beating of Jordan Miles have begun the process of being reinstated to the force. Officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak, and Richard Ewing beat the CAPA high school student in January of last year when they believed he was resisting arrest. Miles says he did not know the men were police and was running out of fear. The decision to reinstate the officers came a day after the US Attorney’s office decided to not pursue charges against the officers. Police Chief Nate Harper said they relied on that investigation and the investigation of the city’s Office of Municipal Investigations.
The officers will have to undergo a physical and receive updated training before returning to the force. Harper said it is still unclear if the officers will be put back in uniform or if they will return as plain clothes officers. They will not return to zone 5.
Harper says he hopes the incident will serve as a teaching experience. “We hope that young people realize that when a police officer approaches them, if they’ve done nothing wrong, to see what the police officer wants instead of running away from the police officer,” said Harper, “also for the officers to realize that because a person runs, it may be in fear.”
The decision to reinstate the officers came before the Allegheny County District Attorney makes a decision about pursuing or not pursuing charges. “We spoke to them this morning, there are a few documents that the law department will give over to the DA’s office, but I am very comfortable bringing the officers back,” said Harper.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hopes the community will find a way to heal. “I don’t believe there is anybody in Pittsburgh… who doesn’t wish that the events of January 12th 2010 did not occur,” said Ravenstahl.
The city has applied for a federal grant to launch programs to build more trust between the police and the community.
Jordan Miles' Mother: "The Whole Community is Outraged"
City of Pittsburgh officials had said they would wait until the federal investigation was over in the case of the beating of an 18 year old African American high school student on January 12, 2010.
Police Chief Nate Harper will hold a news conference this afternoon about the 3 plain clothes officers who allegedly wrongly beat Jordan Miles, an honors student at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School.
The three officers confronted Jordan Miles as he was walking from his mother's house in Homewood to his grandmother's home. Miles says he did not the 3 men were police officers. The officers said they thought Miles had a heavy object in his pocket and he failed to obey an order to stop. Jordan Miles wound up in the hospital, badly beaten about the face and with chunks of hair pulled from his head.
The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it would not pursue criminal charges against Officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing. The statement said that after an exhaustive review by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI including interviews with more than 40 people "there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that Jordan Miles' civil rights were violated.
The attorney for the Miles' family, J. Kerrington Lewis says the Justice Department made the wrong decision and this sends a message...
"That there's no opportunity even for the citizens through a jury trial to determine whether that beating was so excessive it became criminal."
Dan O'Hara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the 3 officers "have been vindicated" by the Justice Department's decision not to prosecute.
Terez Miles, Jordan Miles' mother, says they were hoping for the best but in this case the justice system did not work....
"Jordan and I are both outraged about this. The whole community is outraged. Our family is outraged. There needed to be charges filed on these officers. That would have been the greatest deterrent to this sort of thing happening to other people in the future."
The Miles family filed a civil suit several months ago against the city of Pittsburgh and the 3 officers. That case is expected to go to court late this year.
The 3 officers have been on paid leave for more than a year.
Police Chief Nate Harper will hold a news conference this afternoon about the 3 plain clothes officers who allegedly wrongly beat Jordan Miles, an honors student at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School.
The three officers confronted Jordan Miles as he was walking from his mother's house in Homewood to his grandmother's home. Miles says he did not the 3 men were police officers. The officers said they thought Miles had a heavy object in his pocket and he failed to obey an order to stop. Jordan Miles wound up in the hospital, badly beaten about the face and with chunks of hair pulled from his head.
The Department of Justice announced yesterday that it would not pursue criminal charges against Officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing. The statement said that after an exhaustive review by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI including interviews with more than 40 people "there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that Jordan Miles' civil rights were violated.
The attorney for the Miles' family, J. Kerrington Lewis says the Justice Department made the wrong decision and this sends a message...
"That there's no opportunity even for the citizens through a jury trial to determine whether that beating was so excessive it became criminal."
Dan O'Hara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the 3 officers "have been vindicated" by the Justice Department's decision not to prosecute.
Terez Miles, Jordan Miles' mother, says they were hoping for the best but in this case the justice system did not work....
"Jordan and I are both outraged about this. The whole community is outraged. Our family is outraged. There needed to be charges filed on these officers. That would have been the greatest deterrent to this sort of thing happening to other people in the future."
The Miles family filed a civil suit several months ago against the city of Pittsburgh and the 3 officers. That case is expected to go to court late this year.
The 3 officers have been on paid leave for more than a year.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
No Federal Charges Against Police In Miles' Case
The U.S. Department of Justice has decided not to file charges against Pittsburgh Police Officers Michael Saldutte, David Sisak and Richard Ewing in the January 2010 beating of 18 year old Jordan Miles of Homewood, an honors student at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts High School.
The statement from the Justice Department said the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI conducted an "exhaustive review of the incident" including interviews of more than 40 witnesses.
"After a lengthy, independent, and thorough review consuming hundreds of hours of agent and prosecutor time, federal officials determined that the evidence was insufficient to prove a federal civil rights violation, beyond a reasonable doubt, against any of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers."
Miles says he was walking from his mother's house to his grandmother's house when the three officers confronted him. They claim they tried to stop him because he had a heavy object in his pocket and refused to stop. Miles said he was afraid because he didn't know the plain-clothes officers were police.
Pete Shell of the Alliance for Police Accountability says he's "deeply disappointed and surprised by the decision not to prosecute..."there's ample evidence to prosecute...they put him in the hospital...they tore out chunks of his hair."
Shell says the group presented hundreds of petitions to the Allegheny County District Attorney calling for a local prosecution and he said he would wait till after the federal investigation...."Now that that decision has been announced, we expect D.A. Zappala to move forward with the prosecution in this case. That's the last chance for justice."
Saldutte, Sisak and Ewing remain suspended at this time.
The statement from the Justice Department said the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI conducted an "exhaustive review of the incident" including interviews of more than 40 witnesses.
"After a lengthy, independent, and thorough review consuming hundreds of hours of agent and prosecutor time, federal officials determined that the evidence was insufficient to prove a federal civil rights violation, beyond a reasonable doubt, against any of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers."
Miles says he was walking from his mother's house to his grandmother's house when the three officers confronted him. They claim they tried to stop him because he had a heavy object in his pocket and refused to stop. Miles said he was afraid because he didn't know the plain-clothes officers were police.
Pete Shell of the Alliance for Police Accountability says he's "deeply disappointed and surprised by the decision not to prosecute..."there's ample evidence to prosecute...they put him in the hospital...they tore out chunks of his hair."
Shell says the group presented hundreds of petitions to the Allegheny County District Attorney calling for a local prosecution and he said he would wait till after the federal investigation...."Now that that decision has been announced, we expect D.A. Zappala to move forward with the prosecution in this case. That's the last chance for justice."
Saldutte, Sisak and Ewing remain suspended at this time.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
CeaseFirePa and other Community Groups want Legislation
To mark the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and second anniversary of the fatal shootings of three Pittsburgh police officers, CeaseFirePa, Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP), Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) along with other community groups are urging state and federal lawmakers to make changes to gun regulations.
Jana Finder, the Western Pennsylvania coordinator for CeaseFirePa, says that holes were revealed in the background check system after the Tucson, Arizona shooting that killed six people in January. She says that the loopholes can be closed if each state is required to submit the names of those who are prohibited from purchasing guns to the Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI).
"The background check system is broken and it's not going to be repaired or work properly until the states provide the information they have."
Finder says that Pennsylvania has about a half million of those records, but not one has been submitted to the FBI.
The groups are also attempting to get a nationwide law requiring a background check for every gun purchase. Finder says that there are some circumstances in which the purchaser is not even asked for any form of identification.
On April 30th, CeaseFirePa, B-PEC, and PIIN are planning to hold a memorial service and public forum about gun violence during the National Rifle Association's (NRA) National Convention in Pittsburgh. Finder says that in the past, they have resisted CeaseFirePa's suggestions.
"We're holding this, sort of, counter-event to acknowledge the victims of gun violence and to let the National NRA members know that we are suffering from a gun violence problem."
Finder says a petition is being circulated online.
Jana Finder, the Western Pennsylvania coordinator for CeaseFirePa, says that holes were revealed in the background check system after the Tucson, Arizona shooting that killed six people in January. She says that the loopholes can be closed if each state is required to submit the names of those who are prohibited from purchasing guns to the Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI).
"The background check system is broken and it's not going to be repaired or work properly until the states provide the information they have."
Finder says that Pennsylvania has about a half million of those records, but not one has been submitted to the FBI.
The groups are also attempting to get a nationwide law requiring a background check for every gun purchase. Finder says that there are some circumstances in which the purchaser is not even asked for any form of identification.
On April 30th, CeaseFirePa, B-PEC, and PIIN are planning to hold a memorial service and public forum about gun violence during the National Rifle Association's (NRA) National Convention in Pittsburgh. Finder says that in the past, they have resisted CeaseFirePa's suggestions.
"We're holding this, sort of, counter-event to acknowledge the victims of gun violence and to let the National NRA members know that we are suffering from a gun violence problem."
Finder says a petition is being circulated online.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Memorial Unveiled
On Monday, April 4th, a memorial was unveiled in Bloomfield for Stephen Mayhle, Eric Kelly and Paul Sciullo, three Pittsburgh police officers who were killed while responding to a call in Stanton Heights in 2009.
The memorial is in front of St. Joseph's Church on Liberty Avenue. Designed by artist James Simon, it consists of a glass circle with the date 4/4/09 and the officer's names. There is also a statue of St. Michael and photos of the officers on tiles placed at the base.
The unveiling followed a mass and a ceremony attended by a crowd of about a hundred.
"We never thought we would get this to come to fruition in 2 years but the outpouring of love in this community and the communities around is have all been incredible and we raised over the amount that we needed for the development of this permanent memorial," said Father John Dinello of St. Joseph's Church.
The memorial was made possible through donations totaling over $20,000 from the greater Pittsburgh community.
The memorial is in front of St. Joseph's Church on Liberty Avenue. Designed by artist James Simon, it consists of a glass circle with the date 4/4/09 and the officer's names. There is also a statue of St. Michael and photos of the officers on tiles placed at the base.
The unveiling followed a mass and a ceremony attended by a crowd of about a hundred.
"We never thought we would get this to come to fruition in 2 years but the outpouring of love in this community and the communities around is have all been incredible and we raised over the amount that we needed for the development of this permanent memorial," said Father John Dinello of St. Joseph's Church.
The memorial was made possible through donations totaling over $20,000 from the greater Pittsburgh community.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Donations Needed for Fallen Heroes Memorial
The Bloomfield Development Corporation is asking 200 groups to donate $100 apiece so the Fallen Heroes Memorial can be completed by April 4.
BDC Executive Director Karla Owens says the deadline is important because it marks exactly two years since three Pittsburgh police officers were killed by a gunman.
“Last year, on the first anniversary, when the sidewalks just went in, we stood there and kind of made a promise to the community and the families that we would have this completed by next year,” says Owens.
Owens says the memorial fund has already received about $80,000, but $20,000 is still needed to finish the statue of St. Michael. A walkway and garden are already complete.
Owens says she hopes groups like office departments can put together $100 to donate to the fund. She says groups that contribute will get a decal to thank them for their support.
The memorial will stand next to St. Joseph’s Church in Bloomfield.
“The significance of the church in the community (it has such presence in the community) makes it a perfect place for this whole community endeavor,” says Owens. “This project has been everybody donating time and dollars to see it to completion. There’s really no better place than right there in the center of town.”
Donations can be made out by mail to the Permanent Memorial for Fallen Heroes, c/o Bloomfield Development Corporation, 366 Gross St., Pittsburgh 15224. You can also donate online at www.BloomfieldNow.com or by phone at (412)681-8800.
BDC Executive Director Karla Owens says the deadline is important because it marks exactly two years since three Pittsburgh police officers were killed by a gunman.
“Last year, on the first anniversary, when the sidewalks just went in, we stood there and kind of made a promise to the community and the families that we would have this completed by next year,” says Owens.
Owens says the memorial fund has already received about $80,000, but $20,000 is still needed to finish the statue of St. Michael. A walkway and garden are already complete.
Owens says she hopes groups like office departments can put together $100 to donate to the fund. She says groups that contribute will get a decal to thank them for their support.
The memorial will stand next to St. Joseph’s Church in Bloomfield.
“The significance of the church in the community (it has such presence in the community) makes it a perfect place for this whole community endeavor,” says Owens. “This project has been everybody donating time and dollars to see it to completion. There’s really no better place than right there in the center of town.”
Donations can be made out by mail to the Permanent Memorial for Fallen Heroes, c/o Bloomfield Development Corporation, 366 Gross St., Pittsburgh 15224. You can also donate online at www.BloomfieldNow.com or by phone at (412)681-8800.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
City Council Examines Nuisance Properties
The Allegheny County District Attorney warned about high crime rates in the Hill District during a post agenda meeting today at City Council. The meeting, which focused on nuisance properties and crime, was hosted by Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith and included the City Solicitor and District Attorney, as well as members of the Bureau of Building Inspection, the Law Department, Pittsburgh Police, and Red Five Security.
District Attorney Stephen Zallapa says that crime in the Hill District is concentrated to the housing projects of Addison Terrace, Bedford Dwellings, and Reed Roberts. He says that between January and September 2010 the Hill District saw a large amount of crime. "The Mayor had made it clear to me and the City Solicitor has made it clear to me that if it's necessary to take neighborhoods back block by block, that's what we will do. We have received substantial assistance from other agencies within the city."
Zallapa says that success has been achieved in the Hill District with the razing of Reed Roberts. Since the residents have started their move, crime in the area has decreased 90%. He did point out that the crime rates in other neighborhoods might have increased due to a cut back a few years ago by the Housing Authority in its police capabilities.
City Solicitor Daniel Regan says that their major concern of the quality of life for the residents effected by nuisance properties. He says that the March 2010 creation of the Nuisance Property Task Force has been helpful and cause for inter department coordination.
Zappala says that he would like to see a change made in how Addison Terrace is operated, citing that the Housing Authority needs to create a workable plan. He says that if correct actions are made, crime can be reduced by 75-80%.
District Attorney Stephen Zallapa says that crime in the Hill District is concentrated to the housing projects of Addison Terrace, Bedford Dwellings, and Reed Roberts. He says that between January and September 2010 the Hill District saw a large amount of crime. "The Mayor had made it clear to me and the City Solicitor has made it clear to me that if it's necessary to take neighborhoods back block by block, that's what we will do. We have received substantial assistance from other agencies within the city."
Zallapa says that success has been achieved in the Hill District with the razing of Reed Roberts. Since the residents have started their move, crime in the area has decreased 90%. He did point out that the crime rates in other neighborhoods might have increased due to a cut back a few years ago by the Housing Authority in its police capabilities.
City Solicitor Daniel Regan says that their major concern of the quality of life for the residents effected by nuisance properties. He says that the March 2010 creation of the Nuisance Property Task Force has been helpful and cause for inter department coordination.
Zappala says that he would like to see a change made in how Addison Terrace is operated, citing that the Housing Authority needs to create a workable plan. He says that if correct actions are made, crime can be reduced by 75-80%.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Can Jordan Miles Incident Lead to Improved Relationships and Policing?
In this second report on policing and community relations vis-a-vis a controversial beating and arrest last year, WDUQ looks at some elements that contribute to trust, cooperation and accountability.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has mechanisms for holding officers accountable, but University of Pittsburgh law professor David Harris says a lack of communication leads some people to think no discipline takes place.
Former Chief Robert McNeilly says it's important to train police officers annually in ethics, communications and diversity. Some officers should be removed from the ranks, but too often, arbitrators re-instate them even after serious misconduct. David Harris says this is a problem around the country.
A more diverse police force would enhance relations between the police and the community, but attracting minority applicants is a nationwide problem, according to Chief McNeilly and Prof. Harris. While the reasons for this may be several, distrust can be both cause and effect.
Prof. Harris says the Citizen Police Review Board could play a big role in restoring community confidence because it is so well designed and objective, but both city government and the police department have always opposed its operations.
Listen to the first report in this series.
Listen to the second report in this series
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Jordan Miles Controversy Affects Police/Community Relations
Many in the African American community think police were the ones breaking the law in January, 2010 when they beat and arrested Jordan Miles in Homewood. There are allegations of racial profiling and excessive force.
Police union leaders have decried the dismissal of charges against the young honor student and the ongoing federal investigation of police for possible criminal civil rights violations.
In this report, WDUQ explores the effects this incident has had on the relationship between the community and police--and what impact that relationship may have on crime fighting. If community members think police are not lawful and fair, they do not cooperate with police.
Elizabeth Pittinger, executive director of the Citizen Police Review Board, says police must have "reasonable suspicion" to stop someone on the street. Brandi Fisher, who heads the Alliance for Police Accountability, thinks some police officers practice racial profiling, stopping any young male in a black neighborhood, whether or not there's an indication of wrongdoing.
Fisher says Miles was flourishing--doing well in school, never getting in trouble--in spite of living in a neighborhood with high poverty and crime, yet he was still beaten severely by police for no reason. She says the community is getting impatient for the results of the federal investigation, but it was reassuring to hear that U.S. Attorney David Hickton is aware of the case.
University of Pittsburgh law professor David Harris says it's very hard to prove a federal civil rights violation, and it's also hard in general to convict police officers. Whatever comes of the federal investigation or possible local action, he believes the community needs a full explanation of what happened that night.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Speakers Testify on City Police Reform Legislation
Experts from law enforcement, academia and the legal arena spoke out in support of proposed police reform legislation at Pittsburgh Council Thursday. The post-agenda meeting centered on an ordinance drafted by Councilman Ricky Burgess that would require routine data collection by officers and law enforcement administrators. That data would include everything from routine traffic stops to incidents involving the use of force. The information would be published in an annual public report that would specify the make-up of the police force; any legal action against police officers; average response times; arrests by charge, race and gender by zone and specialized units; conviction rates and traffic stops as well as recruitment and retention. Vic Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania says in the 1990's Pittsburgh police were forced to abide by a consent decree that help bring the department in line. But he says he's sure the police union will come out against the legislation as hamstringing their operations, "that is demonstrably false because other police departments around the country do it, and the city of Pittsburgh police department has done it--they were forced to do it under the consent decree--and crime went down." Walczak says there's a perception in the black community that it is under siege, "and until and unless the city measures what their officers are doing and publicizes it, they can't credibly come out and say there's no problem." Wayne Babish, a former police officer and adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh supports the legislation and says over time, police officers will recognize its benefits, "a police chief would welcome and view this proposed legislation as an opportunity to communicate and collaborate with elected officials." Burgess' legislation was sparked by the alleged beating of Jordan Miles, a black high-school student, by white, plain-clothed police officers in Homewood in January 2010. An investigation into that incident is still pending.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Protest Held Over "Lack of Justice" for Jordan Miles
The Alliance for Police Accountability held a vigil Wednesday in memoriam of the one year anniversary of the Jordan Miles incident. Held on the corner of Tioga and Rosedale Street in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the location of the incident, the protest was intended to show investigators and city officials that people in the city still remember the alleged beating.
Jordan Miles, an African-American and CAPA honor student, was allegedly beaten by three plain clothed police officers during an arrest last year. The civil rights suit, filed on behalf of the Miles family, that followed has since gone into mediation since all lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh must opt for mediation or some form of arbitration before they can proceed to trial.
Brandi Fisher, spokesperson for the Alliance says that the amount of time it is taking for answers to be made available is unacceptable. "This case doesn't involve a lot of people, it doesn't have a large number of evidence, and to take a year to investigate whether there was something wrongful done I think is absurd to try to lead us to believe."
Fisher says that it has been frustrating waiting for investigations to reveal what happened the night of the alleged beating and would like to see more support from city council in finding answers.
Jordan Miles, an African-American and CAPA honor student, was allegedly beaten by three plain clothed police officers during an arrest last year. The civil rights suit, filed on behalf of the Miles family, that followed has since gone into mediation since all lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh must opt for mediation or some form of arbitration before they can proceed to trial.
Brandi Fisher, spokesperson for the Alliance says that the amount of time it is taking for answers to be made available is unacceptable. "This case doesn't involve a lot of people, it doesn't have a large number of evidence, and to take a year to investigate whether there was something wrongful done I think is absurd to try to lead us to believe."
Fisher says that it has been frustrating waiting for investigations to reveal what happened the night of the alleged beating and would like to see more support from city council in finding answers.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Miles' Suit Against Police Goes to Mediator
Attorneys for a Pittsburgh teen and 3 city police officers accused of beating him in January want a mediator to try to settle a civil rights lawsuit. All lawsuits filed in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh must opt for mediation or some form of arbitration before they can proceed to trial. Attorneys for 19 year old Jordan Miles of Homewood and the officers selected arbitration. Miles, who was a senior at Pittsburgh's Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) High School at the time, claims the 3 white officers beat him because they assumed he was a troublemaker...a young black man walking at night in a high crime area. Miles says he was walking from his house to his grandmother's home.
The officers charged Miles with trespassing and claimed he had a gun, but they say it turned out to be a soda bottle. However, Miles denies he even had that. A judge threw out the trespassing charge against Miles when a property owner contradicted the police account and said Miles was a friend of her son. The officers remain on paid administrative leave.
The officers charged Miles with trespassing and claimed he had a gun, but they say it turned out to be a soda bottle. However, Miles denies he even had that. A judge threw out the trespassing charge against Miles when a property owner contradicted the police account and said Miles was a friend of her son. The officers remain on paid administrative leave.
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