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Committee tables 90-day extension for acting police chief after weeks of debate over confirmation process
Summary
Council committee voted to table a resolution extending Acting Chief Chris Ragland's term after extended discussion about a public confirmation process, community meetings and accusations the process became politicized.
Pittsburgh City Council's Public Safety and Wellness Committee on March 5 voted to table a resolution (Bill 15-59) that would have extended the acting chief of police's term for 90 days. The tabling motion passed by roll call, 9-0.
Committee members spent more than an hour debating the process by which the council and community would consider a permanent police chief, and several council members urged a formal, multi-zone public engagement process before any confirmation vote.
Councilmember Kale Smith opened the policy portion of the discussion by saying the confirmation process should be structured and nonpolitical: "I have said from the very beginning of this process that the public safety department and public health should never be part of politics." Smith said meetings with community groups and officers had shown deep…
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