PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania state police have increased the number of troopers dedicated to community engagement and the investigation of hate crimes. Before last year, just one trooper handled those responsibilities. There are now four troopers doing that work.
The East Pittsburgh community was at the center of numerous protests and calls for immediate changes in policing following the death of Antwon Rose Junior in 2018.
It’s one of many communities where outcries for justice happen whenever a life is lost at the hands of police.
Cpl. Aaron Allen is the heritage affairs liaison officer for Pennsylvania state police.
“When I see these incidents happen they affect me. I think they affect every law enforcement officer because we have a lot of jobs to do, but one of our jobs is to make sure we protect and serve our community,” said Allen.
Allen’s position was only part-time initially, but after George Floyd’s death, he and three other troopers have taken on full-time roles.
Their goal is to bridge gaps in communities in addition to investigating hate crimes.
“We talk about the incidents that happen — the George Floyd incidents, the Antwon Rose incidents. It’s important to talk to our students — local high school, middle school, elementary school and also community members about those incidents,” said Allen.
Corporal Allen says state police are implementing new programs, including the office of community engagement.
“They are troopers that work full-time 24/7, 365 on community service initiatives. It is really important to build these relationships. We should have been doing this quite some time ago, but better now than never,” he said.
Meantime, Kenneth Huston, president of the Pennsylvania state NAACP, wants to see more programs implemented.
“We’re not saying from the state conference standpoint that we don’t believe there are no state troopers doing anything in communities. From bridging gaps, we have not seen efforts that we’re aware of. If they are attempting to do that, we would like to know how and what that looks like,” said Huston.
State police say the pandemic had an impact on some of their community engagement programs.
They were forced to go the virtual route for some events, but more in-person events are planned for this summer.