PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - The head of Pittsburgh’s police union says officers are in danger.
Robert Swartzwelder tells KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffin an IED and Molotov cocktails were used during Saturday’s unrest.
“If you have an improvised explosive device and it’s being deployed against America’s law enforcement on America’s streets, I don’t know what else you call it other than a form of Domestic Terrorism,” said Swartzwelder.
Swartzwelder says the letter Mayor Bill Peduto released Wednesday concerning use of force by police at Monday’s night’s protest in East Liberty shows a lack of support.
He adds that the mayor was there on Monday to see some of the violence.
“And then if you read our policies as he puts out in the letter, then he understand what the officers did was reasonable so why do you need to call for an investigation if you’re present at the scene when these acts are being committed?,” asked Swartzwelder.
Swartzwelder adds Peduto implied in Wednesday’s letter that officers were lying about bottles and rocks being thrown at them from a high-rise.
On Thursday, Peduto announced sweeping reforms with the Pittsburgh Police Department and asked for legislation to be passed in Harrisburg.
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