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PIIN moves from marches to measurables to improve public safety in Pittsburgh

Rev. Lyde kicks off Marches to Measurables

On February 26th, PIIN convened a public hearing with Police Chief Cameron McLay to discuss effecting measurable improvements in public safety in Pittsburgh. After the tragic deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and many others, PIIN knew our work needed to move a step further from marches in our community to measurable improvements.

Nearly 600 community members packed into Baptist Temple Church to listen to Chief McLay commit to numerous changes in police procedures, including: immediate improvements in data collection to bolster police accountability and policy, Chief McLay’s participation in quarterly community forums, the hiring of a more diverse police force by the bureau, and annual bureau trainings on implicit bias, racial reconciliation, and procedural justice.

In addition to committing publicly to all of the aforementioned demands, Chief McLay also reinforced that the change needed to heal the deep wounds plaguing our community have to involve action by all of us.

PIIN remains committed to the fight of improved police and community relations, and we reaffirm our commitment to act powerfully on measures to improve public safety in our city and our communities.