Which state leaders are driving the conversation about police reform?

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said he’s optimistic about the creation of database that will track a police officer’s disciplinary history, and he told Channel 11 that he plans to name it after Antwon Rose.

“I've given my word to Antwon Rose's mom that we would fight like hell to get this done in his memory. I told them I'd be calling this the Rose Registry,” Shapiro said.

It's been two years since 17-year-old Rose was shot and killed by East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld while running from a traffic stop.

Shapiro said the death of George Floyd has galvanized efforts to implement a database to track police officers, including excessive use of force and reasons for termination.

“This can save lives. This can improve the quality of police departments all across Pennsylvania. This can root out those who shouldn't be wearing a uniform, and we'll all be better off,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro said it has statewide support from organizations such as the state trooper’s association, Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert and the district attorneys association.

“We have folks who have not been supportive in the General Assembly (and) now have a level of cover because these police organizations have become supportive. (This is) a major step as we go forward,” state Sen. Jay Costa said.

Costa has sponsored legislation calling for the police database other reforms, including training officers to deal with diverse racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds as well as with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and autism.

While both men say reform is needed, they agree police play an important role.

“We need to be able to ensure that we have properly trained police as we go forward and look at those types of things as opposed to trying to eliminate (a) police department or agency,” Costa said.

“I certainly don't support disbanding or defunding police, but what I do support is making real reform like what we are talking about here today, ensuring that police officers can't get jobs just by going from department to department,” Shapiro said.

Both men agree there’s a much different feeling about this push for change, and they expect to see some of these reforms implemented very soon.

Pittsburgh City Council weighs police reforms in wake of protests About a dozen people spoke up during a virtual Pittsburgh City Council meeting Tuesday, some of them calling to disband the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

© 2020 Cox Media Group