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Council backs $20,000 leadership training contract for police supervisors; pepper‑spray use questioned
Summary
Council recommended approval of a $20,000 contract for a police leadership academy modeled on Indianapolis’ Q6 curriculum, with commanders saying the program addresses leadership and retention issues; members raised concerns about pepper‑spray use and asked for clarity on policy and training.
The Public Safety and Wellness Committee on March 25 recommended that the council authorize contracts with Northstar Leadership LLC for police supervisor development and training at a cost not to exceed $20,000 over one year (Bill 252). Commanders who observed Indianapolis’ leadership academy described a scenario‑based two‑week program intended to give supervisors tools for real‑world personnel and risk management situations.
“My name is Jeff Abraham. I'm the commander of Zone 3,” Commander Jeff Abraham said, describing the department’s decision to bring the Indianapolis instructors to Pittsburgh and to run a second leadership academy locally. He and other commanders said the Q6 module provides a “blueprint” for retaining high‑performing officers and handling difficult personnel issues, from illness to media incidents. “We have a leadership issue here,” an instructor and committee speaker said, arguing the training is tailored to police‑specific scenarios and helps supervisors act decisively at the street level rather than repeatedly escalate issues up the chain of command.
Council members asked for specifics about participants, partners and the value proposition. Commanders said the current class includes 24 participants, the program has produced favorable participant surveys and officials aim to continue sessions this summer to build a bench of leaders and improve retention.
Committee discussion then turned to use‑of‑force and crowd‑control tools. Councilwoman Warwick pressed commanders about guidelines for pepper spray, citing recent incidents where civilians (including minors) were affected. Commanders responded that Pittsburgh police have a published general order governing aerosol spray, that the department has switched to a formulation meant to limit effects to an individual rather than a crowd, and that officers are trained to maintain safe distances and to use force options only when reasonable under the totality of the circumstances. “We do not indiscriminately spray people,” one commander said, adding that officers are trained to avoid close‑range deployment that can cause a hydraulic effect.
After discussion, the committee gave Bill 252 an affirmative recommendation.
What’s next: The recommendation will move to the full council schedule for final action.
