PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Citizen Police Review Board is an independent agency set up to investigate citizen complaints about improper police conduct and is comprised of seven unpaid members appointed by the City Council and the Mayor; and,

WHEREAS; an investigation by the Department of Justice into the policies and practices of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police revealed patterns and practices of civil rights violations coupled with highly publicized incidents of police use of force, alleged racial profiling and discriminatory treatment of Pittsburgh citizens and visitors; and,

WHEREAS, a highly motivated, diverse and deeply concerned coalition of unrelenting citizens pursued the creation of a civilian review board through voter referendum and prevailed in all challenges; and,

WHEREAS, on May 20, 1997, the voters of the City of Pittsburgh overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Home Rule Charter and changed the system for investigating and disposing of complaints related to police conduct to create an independent Citizen Police Review Board; and,

WHEREAS, the Citizen Police Review Board has processed more than 4,427 complaints of police misconduct in spite of political antagonism and has developed an organizational integrity that allows the body to offer valuable advice on matters of police conduct, practices and policies;

WHEREAS, the Citizen Police Review Board promotes and contributes to responsible citizenship and professional accountable law enforcement in the City of Pittsburgh.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and congratulate the citizens of the City of Pittsburgh who utilized the tools of democracy to intervene successfully in the divisive patterns of police misconduct; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the Citizen Police Review Board and its Chairperson Marsha V. Hinton and Executive Director Elizabeth C. Pittinger on this 10 year Milestone Anniversary and extends congratulations and appreciation to the current and former members and staff of the Citizen Police Review Board.

Passed in Council on Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

Douglas Shields
President of Council

Attest: Linda Johnson-Wasler
City Clerk

SPONSORED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT DOUG&S SHIELDS

CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS LEN BODACK, TWANDA CARLISLE, DAN DEASY, DARLENE HARRIS, JEFFREY KOCH, JIM MOTZNIK, TONYA PAYNE AND BILL PEDUTO