McKeesport Council hears demands for police reform
Residents and activists are outraged over an arrest video that went viral.
Residents and activists advocated for police reform before McKeesport council Wednesday following a video that went viral last month.
The video showed city officers arresting an elderly man, leading to an uproar from the community.
In the video — which was posted on social media March 8 — an officer kneels on the neck and head of Callie Stinson Sr. while another officer knees him in the side and then puts his knee on the...
Residents and activists are outraged over an arrest video that went viral.
Residents and activists advocated for police reform before McKeesport council Wednesday following a video that went viral last month.
The video showed city officers arresting an elderly man, leading to an uproar from the community.
In the video — which was posted on social media March 8 — an officer kneels on the neck and head of Callie Stinson Sr. while another officer knees him in the side and then puts his knee on the back of the 72-year-old McKeesport man as he’s being handcuffed.
Five people spoke in favor of police reform Wednesday, claiming that McKeesport police have a long history of using excessive force against Black residents. A couple of them also echoed the Take Action Advocacy Group’s list of demands for the city, including a 10% reduction to the police budget.
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“You have people who are literally terrified of your officers, terrified to get pulled over, terrified to call, anything like that.”
TIFFANY CARTER SIAR
TAAG Kay Stinson, who identi- fied herself as Callie’s sis – ter, said her brother has five broken ribs as a result of the police incident.
“We get treated like back in the ’50s and ’60s when they had the march to Selma, Ala. on the bridge,” Kay Stinson said.
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said the FBI reviewed the incident involving Stinson and determined there was no excessive force.
“They used the force that was necessary in order to get him into custody. This has been the opinion of (the FBI), the opinion of our supervisors and the opinion of Assistant Chief Sidney Summers and Chief (Josh) Alfer,” Cherepko said.
The officers involved in the incident were placed on leave, but were reinstated after the FBI informed the city of its opinion.
The city is calling on the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office to release the officers’ body cam foot age.
“I want to see them released. I want the audio released as well. I want everything released,” Cherepko said.
Tiffany Carter Siar of TAAG told city officials they should be embarrassed by the officers’ actions de picted in the viral video.
“Can your officers please stop treating little things like traffic stops as (exple tive) WWE matches?” Siar asked.
Siar said TAAG has already received three calls in April from McKeesport residents accusing the police of using excessive force.
“You have people who are literally terrified of your of – ficers, terrified to get pulled over, terrified to call, any thing like that,” Siar said.
Cherepko said the city will continue to strive to improve relations between the police department and the community.
The mayor said the number of complaints the city receives about the police de- partment has significantly de – clined since he took office 14 years ago.
He praised McKeesport of- ficers for being “personable,” adding that he doesn’t see “negative behaviors” in them.
“The compassion they have for this community is pretty darn admirable for individuals who aren’t from this community,” Cherepko said.
