Since the Mt. Lebanon Police Department indefinitely postponed their effort to publicly release their Use of Force policy, we are pleased that the Mt. Lebanon Commission has signaled their pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion by forming an ad-hoc DEI committee dedicated to making recommendations on the topic. Unfortunately, incidents like the murder of George Floyd, Antwon Rose, and others across the country do not happen on a committee timetable. Ensuring something similar doesn’t happen at the hands of our police officers is an urgent priority.
We want a simple commitment from the Commissioners on the record that the new MLPD Use of Force Policy will be released to the public.
In January, M.O.R.E’s Steering Committee asked the Mt. Lebanon Commissioners to sign this pledge:
We pledge to direct Mt. Lebanon’s Police Department to publicly release their Use of Force Policy upon completion.
On February 1st, we received their response from Commissioner Mindy Ranney. Commissioner Ranney’s reply specified that the Commission will make no formal pledge or commitment. We are asking our Commissioners for leadership on this issue. We want them to publicly support our call for Use of Force Policy transparency.
The murder of George Floyd ignited citizen action across the nation including the volunteers with M.O.R.E. Responding to citizens’ demands, The City of Pittsburgh, Allentown, Bethlehem, and other police forces have made their Use of Force policies public documents. What is holding Mt. Lebanon back from doing the same?
What Can I Do? How Can I Help?
If you’re a Mt. Lebanon resident, we need you to ask your Commissioner to sign this pledge! Residents that are also members of M.O.R.E will be making public comments at the next Commissioner meeting on Tuesday, February 23rd. Please join us!
Ask your Mt. Lebanon Commissioner to Sign the Pledge for Police Use of Force Transparency!
Please let your commissioner know that you still care about this important step toward police transparency in Mt. Lebanon by:
1. Attend the Commissioner Meeting
The Mt. Lebanon Commissioners meet via Zoom’s webinar platform. To attend the meeting, you need to register in advance and then you will be sent the link to the meeting. They hold a discussion session before the regular meeting and registration for these meetings are separate. Registration links will be available here on Friday the 19th.
Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30pm
Register for this meeting to listen in on the discussion preceding the meeting. Residents may attend, but not speak.
Tuesday, February 23 at 8:00pm
Register for this meeting to either listen in on the regular meeting or if you wish to speak during citizen comments time.
If you want to attend the meeting but don’t wish to speak, you may also provide public comment by email before noon the day of the meeting. Send your name, address, and a comment that takes five minutes or less to read.
The button below will create a drafted email for you with the request we’re asking, but we encourage you to edit it so it sounds like it’s coming from you.
2. Call or Email your Commissioner
In addition to speaking during the meeting or emailing them a public comment, or if you cannot attend the meeting or submit a public comment, we urge you to privately contact the commissioner for your ward either via phone or email. We need the commissioners to understand that their constituents are paying attention and to build up the momentum before their meeting on Tuesday.
Click here to identify your ward by street address.
Once you know your ward, contact your commissioner using their information. The email links will create a drafted email for you with the sample script shown below, but we encourage you to edit it so it sounds like it’s coming from you.
- Mindy Ranney, (412) 336-8986, mranney@mtlebanon.org
- Steve Silverman, (412) 491-3794, ssilverman@mtlebanon.org
- Leeann Foster, (412) 327-1226, lfoster@mtlebanon.org
- Craig Grella, (412) 444-8675, cgrella@mtlebanon.org
- Andrew Flynn, (412) 407-5403, aflynn@mtlebanon.org
Sample Email or Phone Script
Dear Commissioner ________,
My name is ________ and I live at ________ (address). I’m contacting you today because I am concerned about the lack of transparency related to Mt. Lebanon Police Department’s Use of Force Policy. I feel it should be added to the police department’s website, in full, so all residents and visitors are aware of the department’s approach and policy regarding the use of force. Research shows that police departments that adopt a policy of transparency can lead to more trust and support between them and the people they serve, especially people of color.
As my Commissioner, would you please sign the M.O.R.E Pledge to state your support, on the record, for making the MLPD’s Use of Force Policy public as soon as it is finalized?
