Review board seeks consultant to probe Pittsburgh police tactics during protests - TribLIVE

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The Citizen Police Review Board voted Tuesday to seek funding to hire an outside consulting group to assist in its investigation into Pittsburgh police tactics against protesters earlier this month in East Liberty, though some board members feared the group’s reputation will hinder any good it might do.

Densus Group, based in Dallas, points to its previous work with the U.S. Department of State, the Marine Corps and high-level organizations in Europe. It bills itself as “first and foremost a decision-support organization firm.”

Elizabeth Pittinger, executive director of the review board, told five of the seven members who attended the video-conference meeting that she’d sought out the Densus Group to provide a view that would be broader yet still have a law enforcement background – a group that could help determine, in part, “who escalated what, when and where.”

The June 1 protest carried on peacefully for hours. Pittsburgh Police officials said that toward the end, a small group splintered off and began damaging businesses and assaulting a TV news crew. Tear gas and smoke were used to force out the crowd, though questions remain as to how the melee actually began and whether police on the scene were authorized to use tear gas.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto ordered an investigation into the police tactics used that night, noting on June 3 that “there is a difference of opinion about what happened that day and the appropriateness” of police actions taken.

Thomas Waters, vice chair of the board, said he fears community members won’t trust Densus in part because a portion of the group’s website paints them as “very pro-force, pro-government, pro-control, pro-police.”

He acknowledged that that could be just a “shortfall of their marketing materials,” but his concerns remain.

“What I’ve heard over and over again (from members of the community) is, ‘Densus, where do I remember that name? Oh yeah. G20. They didn’t help us. They weren’t good for the community,’” Waters said.

The Densus Group, ahead of the 2009 G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, warned local law enforcement and city officials of the potential for clashes between police and protesters. The chairman of the group, Sam Rosenfeld, a former British Army officer, later criticized the way police handled protesters in the Oakland neighborhood, calling the officers’ tactics “too aggressive,” according to an Associated Press report from the time.

“I think if we move forward with the Densus Group … we need a very limited and distinct idea about what their role is, what they are providing for us and what they are not,” Waters said.

Waters, board member Mary Jo Guercio and Chairwoman Emma Lucas-Darby requested from Pettinger clarity on Densus’ diversity.

The board, in the end, voted to approve the motion, which sought to hire the Densus Group to help in the fact-finding parts of the investigation. Waters was the sole nay vote.

Pittsburgh city council members discussed a bill that would pay for the consulting group. Under the review board’s rules and operating procedure, any funds needed must be approved by council and the mayor’s office.

The discussion was part of a heated council meeting focused on police reform — one that saw sharp exchanges between some members. Pittinger said she would inform council of the CPRB’s discussion and vote on Wednesday.

“It’s your independence that is guiding that decision,” Pittinger told the board. “I just, in advance, want you to know that that is my messaging. While, council, we need their authorization and the transfer of funds … substituting council’s judgment for yours is something that I would certainly push back on.”

Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Megan at 412-380-8519, mguza@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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