Fewer black Pittsburgh cops since ACLU bias suit

PITTSBURGH — The city of Pittsburgh has a smaller percentage of black police officers since the American Civil Liberties Union sued two years ago alleging hiring discrimination.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review  reports just 13 percent of city officers are black, down from 17 percent when the lawsuit was filed in 2012.   The newspaper's report comes as the sides are scheduled to meet Thursday with a federal magistrate who is mediating the lawsuit.

Census figures show about 26 percent of the city is black.   The ACLU contends screening practices disproportionately eliminate black candidates. But the city has said in court papers that the lead plaintiff had three warrants for failing to respond to citations, spotty work records and a "poor" driving record when he was passed over for a police job.

WPXI