The Pittsburgh Point of View blog is for the presentation of original, thoughtful, and constructive proposals that promote community well-being and trust between the community and police. Our first guest writer, Chuck Bosetti is a former police officer and freelance writer who examines socio-political influence in policing. Bosetti discusses a community/police partnership model of community support, Neighborhood Response Teams (NRTs). “Neighborhood Response Teams have been successful in other cities for many years. I recommended the approach to the Chief of Police and other community and elected leaders in 2011. The concept was well-received but never implemented.”

Passed: July 21, 1010: “Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article Two, Executive, be amended and supplemented by amending and adding new language to Sections 229 and 230 and adding a new Section, 231, expanding the powers of the Independent Citizen Police Review Board to allow the Board to require police officers to participate in investigations, conducting performance audits of the Police Bureau and preventing the removal of Board members except for just cause and with City Council approval?”

As Tennyson observed, God’s finger touched him, and he slept. BUT his slumber began as another inhumane, senseless and cowardly act of violence. We have lost a young man who selflessly embraced the community, our City, with fierce courage and compassion. Now, his dreams lay beneath our feet as we anxiously await news of yet another senseless act of violence that will forever change another family. It must stop. We have a shared responsibility to keep each other and our police safe, as they too are important to their families & children.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize, congratulate, and humbly thank Elizabeth Pittinger for her more than 20 years of dedicated service with the Commission on Human Relations, allowing us to pull on her wisdom, knowledge and experience for the betterment of the Commission and the people of Pittsburgh. We wish her peace, prosperity and good success throughout her life.