(Pitts. Pa) A March 23
Post-Gazette headline says it well: "How Did More Than $70,000 in Stolen
Checks Go Unnoticed?" Indeed, how did years of Pittsburgh police abuse of
the public trust go unnoticed, unchecked and unpunished?
We should not forget that the
current headline-grabbing stories about police moonlighting, multiple jobs,
slush funds, personal "bodyguards," parasitic insider businesses,
Wild West ambushes of traffic violators and unprovoked beatings of youth have
produced barely a rise from the elected watchdogs and political aspirants. It's
a sad commentary on the integrity and courage of elected officials and those
who have jumped out to vie for the soon-vacant mayoral seat that they will not
take the lead on this question. Or are they waiting for the toothless, pathetic
Citizens Police Review Board to step up?
And the Pittsburgh media can
take no credit from this fiasco. The federal authorities -- and likely inside
whistle blowers -- exposed the corruption rotting away the highest levels of
the police department with the media only tailing distantly.
Those who so self-righteously
place public safety on their agenda must step up and call for a complete and
thorough reform of the Pittsburgh police. Only then will citizens be confident
that there will be no more slush funds, crony deals, job distractions and
Jordan Miles incidents. No city council or mayoral candidate should be allowed
to duck this issue.