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PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - The police side of Saturday’s controversial arrest is coming out.
A lack of support for police actions for Mayor Bill Peduto is causing “substantial problems with morale.”
Police union president Bob Swartzwelder tells KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffin why.
“This is exactly what the mayor requested a couple of months ago he specifically asked after the East Liberty incident why can’t we just get the one protesters that’s causing the most problems,” said Swartzwelder.
Plainclothes officers arrested 25-year-old Matthew Cartier and took him away in an unmarked van.
The mayor now says that type of arrest is off-limits during a peaceful protest.
Cartier is charged with failure to disperse, disorderly conduct and obstruction.
Swartzwelder says around 300 officers on the force have 20 years on the job and qualify for retirement.
“No support from the mayor, no support from the district attorney, it’s becoming ridiculously difficult to earn a paycheck here, is it really worth it and they walk,” said Swartzwelder.
He says a large number of experienced officers leaving the Police Bureau will create a leadership vacuum.
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