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File #: 2004-0160    Version:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed Finally
File created: 3/9/2004 In control: Committee on Public Safety Services
On agenda: Final action: 5/18/2004
Enactment date: 5/18/2004 Enactment #: 248
Effective date: 5/27/2004    
Title: Resolution requesting the Citizen Police Review Board review current training standards imposed by the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the training policies and practices of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police as related to defensive and offensive tactics related to the use of force to assure officers are adequately prepared and maintain the skills necessary to protect the safety of officers and citizens during complex encounters.
Sponsors: Gene Ricciardi, Twanda Carlisle
Indexes: MISCELLANEOUS
Attachments: 1. 2004-0160.doc, 2. 2004-0160 v-2.doc
Presenter
Presented by Mr. Bodack
 
AS AMENDED
 
Title
Resolution requesting the Citizen Police Review Board review current training standards imposed by the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the training policies and practices of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police as related to defensive and offensive tactics related to the use of force to assure officers are adequately prepared and maintain the skills necessary to protect the safety of officers and citizens during complex encounters.
Body
Whereas the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Act (P. L. 359, No. 120, June 18, 1974) creates and empowers the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission to develop and administer a comprehensive police training curriculum and establish minimum standards of competence required for certification and re-certification of all municipal, college or university police officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
 
Whereas the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission requires 754 hours of basic training for police officer candidates and mandates 12 hours of annual academic in-service training for all certified municipal police officers in Pennsylvania;
 
Whereas basic police training in Pennsylvania does not include defensive tactics or use of less lethal technologies the state of Pennsylvania does not mandate that in-service officers receive ongoing, job relevant defensive tactics training, and
 
Whereas the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has the authority to expand instructional requirements for Pittsburgh Police officers, an independent review of local training policies and practices related to the use of police force, defensive tactics and less than lethal force technologies would be of benefit to the administration of the city, police officers and citizens;
 
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
 
Section 1.  That in the interest of promoting the safety of Pittsburgh Police officers and citizens, the City Council of the City of Pittsburgh requests the Executive Director of the Citizen Police Review Board conduct an independent review of the training policies and practices of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police related to officer training in defensive and offensive use of force and less than lethal force technologies and make recommendations to this Council, the Mayor and Chief of Police regarding the adequacy of current policies and practices when contrasted to those of cities or metropolitan areas similar in size and demographic composition to the City of Pittsburgh.