New Public Safety Director overturns decision, fires officer involved in Bloomfield incident

PITTSBURGH — There are new developments in the disciplinary cases of the Pittsburgh police officers involved in the tasing of Jim Rogers.

Target 11 has learned that the city’s new public safety director, who was sworn in on Tuesday, didn’t waste any time dropping the hammer. Director Lee Schmidt has overturned a decision by Chief of Police Scott Schubert and decided to fire the second-highest-ranking officer who responded to the scene.

Sgt. Carol Ehlinger had initially been given an oral reprimand while the other seven officers were fired.

The highest-ranking officer on the scene, Lt. Matt Gauntner, retired before facing any disciplinary action.

An internal report leaked to the media and multiple sources confirmed to Target 11 that the officers involved allegedly used excessive force and ignored Rogers’ pleas for assistance. According to sources and the report, he repeatedly asked for help and said he couldn’t breathe.

Rogers went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and died the next day.

Pittsburgh City Councilman Rev. Ricky Burgess is now weighing in on the case.

“I believe that most officers, most days go out there trying do the best they can to protect and serve, and so they do not plan for these incidents to occur, it is not what they want and so these sad incidents where you have a critical incident between officers and civilian and who especially when a life is lost, it’s a sad day for everyone involved,” said Burgess.

Multiple sources have confirmed that an Allegheny County grand jury will now hear from some of those officers and ultimately determine if any of those Pittsburgh police officers should face criminal charges.

And while Rogers’ family and friends have complained about the length of the process, which will now likely drag into arbitration as all the officers will likely appeal their firings, Burgess told Target 11 that it takes time.

“One person has lost their life and you are talking about the careers of public servants, so you need to not rush to judgment and give the process some time to work itself out and give a report and to make recommendations. Certainly, we pray for the family of the gentleman who lost his life,” said Burgess.

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