Loading ...Police officers face more heat over beating
by Mountain Girl ~ January 27th, 2010. Filed under: Latest News.Police officers face more heat over beating
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
By Rich Lord, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh
Councilman Ricky Burgess today demanded that officers involved in the Jan. 11 incident that has brought police brutality accusations by Homewood resident Jordan Miles be placed on paid leave while the Office of Municipal Investigations conducts its probe.
“As long as these officers are active, the community will not feel safe,” said Mr. Burgess, whose district includes Homewood. “I believe the chief of police has the authority to place the officers on administrative leave, immediately.”
Police Chief Nate Harper has moved Officers Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak from plainclothes duty to uniformed duty. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said Tuesday that he backs that decision for now, though he added that he shares the concerns of Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School students who protested on behalf of Mr. Miles, a senior there. Mr. Burgess also called for the dropping of all charges against Mr. Miles. READ MORE.
Email This Post
Print This Post
January 28th, 2010 at 9:37 am
What happened to inoccent until proven guilty? NAACP automatically called for firings before anything has even been looked at. Maybe this kid that everyone says is a “good kid” really isn’t. If the police ask you to do something you do it. If you are in an area that is known for drugs and guns and police patrols are high and you aren’t doing anything then maybe it isnt a good idea to mouth off to the cops and then run and not listen to what they are telling you. Just saying kids today have not respect for police and that is because their parents taught them.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:15 am
yinzer:
Just as you are asking us to wait for the facts, I urge you to do the same. How do you know Jordan Miles “mouthed off” or even the extent that he ran? You’re assuming. One indisputable fact is that this young man is an honor student with no criminal record.
You’re simplifying a very complex issue. It’s easy to say that if you’re not doing anything, why be afraid of the police? That’s assuming that what you’ve experienced in your life is that the criminal justice system works fairly and equitably for everyone. The truth is, it doesn’t.
Additionally, while there is criminal activity in Homewood, there are some wonderful, hard-working people that live there and try to make the community better. Just like every community in Pittsburgh. Some of the things that have happened to that neighborhood happened as a result of the economy, job loss, population loss, lack of infrastructure and investment, etc. Let’s not write off a whole group of people because of where they happen to have grown up. Have you heard of the Homewood Children’s Village? Might be worth a Google.
And while I agree that we should have respect for authority, respect and fear are not one in the same.
MG
January 28th, 2010 at 10:29 am
YINZER: “if the police ask you to do something you do it”
How did this kid know they were cops? They could have just as easily been thugs trying to mug this kid. “identifying themselves as police” just isn’t enough. I know if i had 3 big, plain clothed guys running after me for no apparent reason I would have ran my butt off too, and i’m a good kid! I wouldn’t stand there and accept a mugging/beating/harassment.
Imagine you’re walking down Beltzhover Ave. and 3 big guys in plain clothes dudes approach you and start yelling at you. Are you just going to stand there to see what they want? Hell no. You’re going to keep walking. If they get more aggressive you run. Simple as that.
Now if they were in a cop car or in uniform i wouldn’t run. these cops can’t expect to be in plain clothes and have people not run from them.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:47 am
It is pretty apparent that Yinzer must have grown up in a community that is not labeled as a “BAD” neighborhood. In these so called “BAD” neighborhoods, police do not conduct theirselves in a respectable manner, therefore, they get none in return. Not all of them are bad, but even if you have 1 that is, everyone has to be on edge. Police are not supposed to hurt people. Jordan Miles face should be an obvious clue thats these cops did something wrong, no matter what he did. I don’t live in a wealthy neighborhood and have seen first hand what the police can do. I hope those officers are fired and jailed. Because if one of us would do to someone what they did, that is what would happen.