PITTSBURGH — Only Channel 11 learned Monday that the police union is coming down on Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay following the incident during the Donald Trump rally last week at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Target 11’s Rick Earle reported that some Pittsburgh police officers on duty at the convention center last Wednesday when those waiting outside Trump’s rally became violent have expressed serious concerns about the lack of equipment and manpower.
McLay addressed the issue Monday, saying while he’s extremely proud of his officers, he admitted the bureau wasn’t as prepared as it should have been. He said more officers in riot gear should have been on standby and ready to go at a moment’s notice.
“So did we have enough people staged and equipment ready to go? No, we didn't. We didn't see that one coming. It shifted too quickly, and that's part of the things I think we will find that we could have done better,” McLay said.
McLay confirmed that at least four officers needed medical attention after protesters released pepper spray. Police Fraternal Order of Police President Robert Swartzwelder said things may have turned out differently had officers been allowed to wear their proper riot gear.
“The officer is placed in the middle when a city fails to protect opposite political protected messages, resulting in violent protests. They do so by not ensuring adequate police staffing and inadequate equipment being on scene to repel violence,” Swartzwelder said.
Some Pittsburgh police officers also complained that they weren’t allowed to wear helmets and shields while Allegheny County police were equipped with riot gear.
In retrospect, McLay said his officers still may have been pepper-sprayed even with the proper riot gear.
“They might still get pepper-sprayed if it takes us by surprise, and that's what happened here -- the sudden surge (and) officers there quickly having to react. Even if we had my emergency team staged, like I described, would they have been there in time?” McLay said.
The chief said while no serious injuries or property damage occurred, he’s concerned about what happened under the convention center and how protesters were allowed to infiltrate the space.
“In retrospect, of course we should have never given up that space. Our intention was that area underneath the convention center be a safe area and that it be secure. I don't know how we lost that, so I'm going to learn during the course of the debriefing, you know, what happened (and) how we lost that space,” he said.
Mayor Peduto later disputed the criticism from the FOP.
“That is not a decision that comes from the FOP, but from the chief and those around him when it is warranted,” Peduto said. “If we are going to have ever public demonstration requiring riot gear and put people in a position when they feel intimidated we might as well just take the bill of rights and throw it in the garbage.”
McLay said there will be an entire review of the situation, adding the department place to reinstate its Crowd Control Team, which trains and plans for large-scale activities.
As for a separate incident caught on camera at the rally involving a Tribune Review employee being pushed by an officer, no official complaint will be filed.
Deborah Walker, the manager of the Office of Municipal Investigations for Pittsburgh, released the following statement Monday about a review of the incident:
“Once the incident was brought to my attention, I called for a review of the interaction. During the preliminary investigation, the City of Pittsburgh was in contact with the alleged victim. The alleged victim has stated repeatedly that she does not wish to file an official complaint.
“Upon further review of the videos of the incident, our preliminary investigation did not find any wrongdoing done by the police officer."
Cox Media Group
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