FORMER PITTSBURGH POLICE CHIEF SCOTT SCHUBERT
‘IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT’
“Open.” “Honest.” “Transparent.”
Those were the primary words used by those who attended an open forum on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at PPG Paints Arena, pertaining to the traits that the next Pittsburgh Chief of Police should have.
The city has been without a permanent chief since Scott Schubert announced his departure in late June. The city compiled a nine-member search committee to sponsor public meetings with Mayor Ed Gainey, giving residents a chance to express who they want the next police chief to be…or at least “how” he should be.
“Not afraid of conflict, able to lead in a strong direction, able to take on the problems that the bureau faces,” added Lisa Frank, chief operating and administrative officer for the City of Pittsburgh, in a brief interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier, Oct. 26.
“Also, a person who can rebuild trust with the community…a lot of people said that the bureau should look like the City of Pittsburgh, and that would be a more diverse bureau than we have right now,” Frank said. “And leading in that direction can often be done most effectively by someone who embodies that themselves. What I heard people saying is that they want the best chief possible, and it’s a plus if it’s a woman or a Black chief.”
The search committee is comprised of private citizens, not elected officials. Once the search committee compiles all of the feedback from residents, it will be sent to a firm that will be responsible for choosing a set of candidates from across the country and those who rise to the top internally.
CHRISARAH JOHNSON, A MEMBER OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE
Chrisarah Johnson was the lead moderator for the Oct. 26 public forum. She is part of the search committee. The members of the search committee are permitted to have their own voice in who the next police chief should be.
“I want somebody who is able to see things from a diverse lens and an equity lens,” she told the Courier. “I want someone who is able to be OK with everyone else not being OK in the moment and being able to be a strong leader.”
Johnson said that there were some youth involved in a prior public meeting, Oct. 24, at Carrick High School. “I think about the youth and especially the ones in school, they probably have the most interaction with police. And some of the things they were saying reminded me when I was a kid…the police chief that we choose is going to have an impact on these kids. So I want to be able to have somebody that serves everyone.”
There are two more public forums left: Thursday, Nov. 3, at Community Empowerment Association, in Homewood, and Saturday, Nov. 5, via Zoom (online). You can register at bit.ly/PGH1105.
Maria Montano, press secretary for Mayor Ed Gainey, told the Courier that Mayor Gainey has been welcoming the feedback from the citizens. “We want your honesty,” Montano said. “The more voices we hear from, it matters. It’s important that we get this right.”
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