Gainey responds to reported threats by DA to seek control of city police
Pittsburgh mayor responds to reported threats by district attorney to seek control of city’s police
Allegheny County District attorney Steve Zappala reportedly threatened to file a lawsuit to seize control over Pittsburgh Police unless Mayor Ed Gainey addresses crime
Updated: 11:56 PM EDT Oct 30, 2023
Mayor Ed Gainey responded to reports that Allegheny County District attorney Steve Zappala threatened to file a lawsuit to seize control over Pittsburgh Police.Zappala was unavailable to speak to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday.Gainey also declined to comment on camera Monday night but shared a statement.“We have reviewed the case law, and if Mr. Zappala has a case or a statute that he can cite to prove he has the authority to seize control of our Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, I’d love to see it,” the statement said in part. St. Vincent College law professor, Bruce Antkowiak weighed in.“There doesn’t appear to be any statute, that at least I’m aware of, in Pennsylvania that would permit a district attorney to attempt to go to court and get an order for the mayor to be displaced from that authority, and to put the district attorney in that position,” Antkowiak said.Title 8, Chapter 11 of Pennsylvania state law states, “The mayor shall have full charge and control of the chief of police and the police force.”Antkowiak said in this scenario, the issue raised to the court would have to be stronger than a difference of opinion.“There would have to be something that would make a truly compelling case that the mayor is not performing this function, in such a way that you could consider that there was no administration over the police department by the mayor,” Antkowiak said. Matt Dugan, who is running against Zappala in the district attorney race, called this alleged effort a political tactic.“This is him playing politics, trying to hold onto a job that he’s had for 24 years,” Dugan said. “Pittsburgh Police needs a true partner in the form of the district attorney, the chief law-enforcement officer of the county. That’s what’s missing from this equation, is true leadership from the district attorney‘s office.”Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 will provide an update when Zappala is available to comment.
PITTSBURGH —
Mayor Ed Gainey responded to reports that Allegheny County District attorney Steve Zappala threatened to file a lawsuit to seize control over Pittsburgh Police.
Zappala was unavailable to speak to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Monday.
Gainey also declined to comment on camera Monday night but shared a statement.
“We have reviewed the case law, and if Mr. Zappala has a case or a statute that he can cite to prove he has the authority to seize control of our Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, I’d love to see it,” the statement said in part.
St. Vincent College law professor, Bruce Antkowiak weighed in.
“There doesn’t appear to be any statute, that at least I’m aware of, in Pennsylvania that would permit a district attorney to attempt to go to court and get an order for the mayor to be displaced from that authority, and to put the district attorney in that position,” Antkowiak said.
Title 8, Chapter 11 of Pennsylvania state law states, “The mayor shall have full charge and control of the chief of police and the police force.”
Antkowiak said in this scenario, the issue raised to the court would have to be stronger than a difference of opinion.
“There would have to be something that would make a truly compelling case that the mayor is not performing this function, in such a way that you could consider that there was no administration over the police department by the mayor,” Antkowiak said.
Matt Dugan, who is running against Zappala in the district attorney race, called this alleged effort a political tactic.
“This is him playing politics, trying to hold onto a job that he’s had for 24 years,” Dugan said. “Pittsburgh Police needs a true partner in the form of the district attorney, the chief law-enforcement officer of the county. That’s what’s missing from this equation, is true leadership from the district attorney‘s office.”
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 will provide an update when Zappala is available to comment.
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