Presenter
Presented by Mr. Hertzberg
Title
Requesting the Mayor and Chief of Police to investigate the nationwide state-of-the-art use of non-lethal restraining weapons such as the Taser Gun and the utilization of Mental Health Crisis Management Intervention Teams, for implementation in Pittsburgh.
Body
Whereas, the nation watches with horror at news stories of police beatings that result in the maiming or death of resistant suspects being taken into custody, and
Whereas, this Council appreciates that police have a difficult and dangerous job of protecting the public and taking into custody, suspects who resist arrest, and
Whereas, Council also acknowledges that many suspects causing disturbances may indeed be breaking the law, or posing a threat to the public, or to police officers, but may at the same time be having a mental crisis, and
Whereas, Council recognizes that professional policing practices would prefer to restrain a suspect and take them into custody with minimum force necessary
Whereas, Council believes that the policing policy of the City of Pittsburgh should include the use of non-lethal restraint weapons, where appropriate, and
Whereas, Council further believes that situations that are clearly mental health related should be diffused by Mental Health Crisis Management professionals, under police supervision…
Be it Resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Mayor and Chief of Police are hereby requested to investigate the nationwide state-of-the-art use of non-lethal restraining weapons such as the Taser Gun and the utilization of Mental Health Crisis Management Intervention Teams, for implementation in Pittsburgh.
Section 2. The Chief of Police and the Citizens Police Review Board each are hereby requested to appear at a televised Post Agenda meeting of City Council, within 30 days from today, to share their findings and recommendation with Council and the ...
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