Last two public meetings to discuss idea of countywide citizens' review board set

The last two public meetings to discuss the idea of a countywide citizens’ police review board have been scheduled.

The next meeting will take place Sept. 20 at Duquesne Elementary School, 300 Kennedy Ave., Duquesne, 15110.

The last meeting will take place at Ryan Event Center, 420 Chartiers Ave., McKees Rocks.

Both meetings will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

County Council members DeWitt Walton, D-Hill District, and Paul Klein, D-Point Breeze, are hosting the four meetings to explore the idea of a police citizens’ review board.

The council voted 8-6 to schedule the meetings after the June 19 fatal shooting of unarmed teen Antwon Rose II by East Pittsburgh officer Michael Rosfeld. The Black Political Empowerment Project and other community organizations have been calling for such a board for years.

The Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board oversees the city police, but no such body exists for county police or the more than 100 police departments within the county.

The board would only cover the Allegheny County Police at first, then other municipalities can vote to opt in, Walton has said.

Six County Council members last month sent a three-page letter to each municipality in the county urging them to come to the meetings and listing their concerns about the idea.

Council members Sam DeMarco, R-North Fayette; Cindy Kirk, R-McCandless; Sue Means, R-Bethel Park; Tom Baker, R-Ross; Pat Catena, D-Carnegie; and Bob Macey, D-West Mifflin, signed the letter. The same members voted against scheduling the public meetings.

The Allegheny County Police Association also opposes the measure.

The council is set to consider legislation by Oct. 23.

Theresa Clift is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Theresa at 412-380-5669, tclift@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tclift.