Pittsburgh mayor talks relationship with Allegheny Co. district attorney after accusations

PITTSBURGH — The situation between the Pittsburgh mayor’s office and the Allegheny County district attorney was made worse with the release of a letter written by District Attorney Stephen Zappala.

"There's factions within the Democratic Party who have never been on the same team," said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto about his relationship with the Allegheny County district attorney on the heels of accusations the city tried to slow an investigation into officers who mistakenly shot and killed a man while responding to a burglary.

Even though they are both Democrats, the mayor admitted Friday that he and the district attorney don't see eye-to-eye on politics, but he said that shouldn't get in the way of public safety.

“I don't like it that he continually chooses to go to the media instead, and it's not going to get the issue resolved. It simply allows him to use this as a political issue,” Peduto said, firing back one day after Zappala accused the city of stonewalling his investigation into two Pittsburgh police officers who mistakenly shot and killed a man in Larimer while responding to a burglary in January.

PREVIOUS STORY: Police fatally shoot homeowner while responding to burglary in Larimer

“I'm not satisfied that we were able to get on scene in a timely fashion or talk to the people who would give us evidence,” Zappala said Thursday.

“If there was something that he didn't receive, all he had to do was notify the chief or notify me or the public safety director,” Peduto said. “We will work in cooperation with him.”

Target 11 obtained a letter the district attorney sent to the mayor's chief of staff in July, six months after the shooting, accusing the city of changing the manner in which an officer's use of force is investigated.

“The lack of independence and in fact, the obstruction of an independent investigation, has raised (a) serious and unnecessary issue,” Zappala said in the letter.

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Friday, the mayor said he was unaware of the letter, but promised a quick resolution.

“Obviously we are going to work in the most transparent way, we are going to work to have the most amount of accountability,” Peduto said. “We will work with the D.A. in order to answer any questions that he may have.”

The district attorney's office said they did not seek out the media, but communicated concerns to the mayor's senior staff in July.

Meanwhile the mayor’s office said they have actually reached an agreement with the district attorney's office.

Cox Media Group