“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?”
CPRB Litigation & Legislation
Commonwealth Court Judge Johnny J. Butler upholds Sept 23rd, 2010 court decision to deny CPRB G-20 documents
December 28th, 2011
“The issues before this Court include: 1) whether the authority given to the Board pursuant to the City’s Home Rule Charter supersedes the authority provided in the CHRIA; 2) whether the trial court erred by determining that a chronological listing of names of individuals charged with alleged offenses was protected from disclosure pursuant to Section 9106 of the CHRIA; 3) whether the Board’s failure to challenge the trial court’s information as compromising only protected intelligence, investigative or treatment information was an admission of such classification; and 4) whether the doctrine of judicial estoppel bars the City from repudiating the terms of a letter of understanding that memorializes the terms of the Board’s access to various investigative police documents. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the order of the trial court.”
Judge Wettick denies CPRB motion to gain access to G-20 documents
September 23rd, 2010
“The Motion of the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board to compel production of 309 pages of un-redacted police reports is the subject of this Opinion and Order of Court. […] At the direction of the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, counsel for the City took the position that the City shall not honor these subpoenas because the Police Review Board exceeded its authority in issuing subpoenas for an investigation initiated by the Board. It was the position of the Mayor that the role of the Police Review Board is limited to investigating verified complaints of police misconduct. […] On this 23rd day of September, 2010, it is hereby ORDERED that the request of the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board that I compel the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police to furnish intelligence, investigative, and treatment information protected by ยง9106 is denied.”
Judge Wettick orders Chief Harper to respond to G-20 documents subpoena
June 18th, 2010
“WHEREAS, on December 1, 2009, the Citizen Police Review Board (“CPRB”) issued a subpoena to Respondent, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nathan E. Harper, for various reports and documents related to the September 2009 meeting in Pittsburgh of the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (“G-20″). WHEREAS, on January 21, 2010, the CPRB filed a Motion to Enforce Compliance with the Subpoena. WHEREAS, a hearing on the Motion was held on March 8, 2010, after which the Court entered an Order that Respondent comply with the subpoena, provided that specific documents may be withheld if identified in a Privilege Log.”
Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr., orders City to comply with CPRB G-20 documents request
March 18th, 2010
“On this 18th day of March, 2010, it is hereby ORDERED that the Motion to Enforce Compliance With Subpoena issued to Nathan E. Harper, Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, is granted and the documents described in this Subpoena shall be produced within twenty (20) days. Specific documents may be withheld if identified in a Privilege Log.”
Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. orders response to CPRB G-20 documents motion
February 5th, 2010
G-20 Petition to Enforce Compliance with Documents Subpoena
January 16th, 2010
“This Motion seeks an Order of Court enforcing a subpoena issued to Nathan E. Harper, Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, for the production of documents related to policies, procedures, planning, training, supervision and deployment affecting police/civilian encounters related to the September 24-25, 2009, summit in Pittsburgh of the Group of 20 (“G-20″) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.”
Settlement Agreement for City Compliance with Subpoenas
August 12th, 2004
“And now, this 12 day of August, 2004, upon this case being remanded from the matter filed in Commonwealth Court at No. 255 CD 2004, it is ADJUDGED, ORDERED and DECREED that the parties have agreed to amicably resolve this litigation through adoption of the within Settlement Agreement.”
Court opinion on whether police officers should be compelled by the City to testify before the CPRB
July 21st, 2004
“And now, this 21st day of July, 2004, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal is hereby DENIED.”
Contempt Sanctions Imposed on City of Pittsburgh for Failure to Respond to Subpoenas
January 16th, 2004
“The City of Pittsburgh is found to be in criminal contempt of court and is hereby fined $500 for its failure to comply; and the City of Pittsburgh is found in civil contempt and shall be assessed penalties of $100, per day, for each day henceforth that it fails to comply with said subpoenas.”
