Women’s groups urged Pittsburgh City Council on Thursday to strengthen a proposed ordinance that could prohibit police officers accused of domestic violence from being hired or promoted. A public hearing drew about 30 people who pleaded with council members to prohibit police officers under protection-from-abuse orders from carrying a gun, getting a job and earning promotions. Those provisions aren’t part of the police bureau’s preliminary policy, but they could be added. Jeanne Clark, a member of the National Organization for Women in Squirrel Hill, accused Mayor Luke Ravenstahl of moving too slowly to pass rules to punish police accused of abuse. “Until today, the primary action we’ve seen is this brochure called ‘A Guide for Protection from Abuse Orders,’ printed on someone’s ink-jet printer,” Clark said. The pamphlet has been distributed to police officers. “This is symbolic of the good words but lack of deeds.” Barbara K. Shore, a professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, said City Council’s bill — presented nearly four months after the first public hearing on the topic — “is a giant step” in the right direction, but “the city must demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy.” Ravenstahl said in June — and repeated yesterday — that his goal is to adopt such a policy. “It’s my commitment and hope that we can come up with policies that constitute a zero-tolerance policy for police officers and domestic violence,” Ravenstahl said after the hourlong hearing, adding that he wants Pittsburgh to be a “leader on this issue.” Calls for changes to the city’s domestic violence policy began in June when Harper and Ravenstahl promoted three police officers with accusations of domestic violence or disturbances in their pasts. Ravenstahl declined to reverse the promotions, fearing a lawsuit. Representatives from NOW, the National Council of Jewish Women, and Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, said Pittsburgh must catch up to other cities that closely monitor and investigate police domestic violence before it can think about leading. Jim Malloy, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Fort Pitt Lodge No. 1, asked council members to reject the measure. He said city lawmakers should trust police Chief Nate Harper’s ability to lead. “The first time a flap came along, you immediately challenge his ability to lead by turning this into a police-bashing,” Malloy said. Harper said he would work with the council to incorporate suggestions. So far, he has decided that police recruits with active protection-from-abuse orders against them won’t be hired. Current officers facing PFAs would be evaluated for promotions on a case-by-case basis under his policy, Harper said. The ordinance is set for a preliminary vote Wednesday. A final vote on the proposal could come Oct. 30.

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