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Mt. Lebanon Police Department’s Use of Force Policy Promised for Public Release

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Thank you to all of those who answered our call in late February to contact your commissioner regarding the need to publicize the new Mt. Lebanon Police Department’s (MLPD) Use of Force Policy once it is revised and adopted. Everyone’s public comments have been recorded and published in the approved minutes from the February 23 Commission Meeting. Our pleas have not been ignored!

Minutes of the February 23, 2021 Adjourned Meeting of the Mt. Lebanon Commission. Citizens Comments. Tessa Watkins spoke in support of the police department signing the M.O.R.E petition for the use of policy as well as more transparency. Bryce spoke in support of the road reconstruction program, thanking the Commission for its consideration in including Parkway Drive in the program for this year. Donna DiNardo stated that she serves on the Steering Committee of a group called M.O.R.E, which is an acronym for Mt. Lebanon Organization for Racial Equity. She wanted more transparency on the use of force policy, asking that it become a public document. Holly McCullough spoke about the police use of force policy, asking that it become a public document. She had concerns that Lexipol is driven by limited liability. Stephanie Myers stated that she is a member of M.O.R.E, and she supports making the use of force policy more transparent. Vickie Piontkowski stated that she is a member of M.O.R.E. She asked the Commission to comment on its views of the police use of force policy. Ms. Ranney provided a brief response. She stated that once a policy is implemented, it will be made available to the public. She also spoke about the DEI committee, explaining its purpose, stating that at the end of the year, the committee would be recommending policies and inititives to the Commission. Ms. Ranney also noted that the Commission committed to the DEI committee as once of its top five priority projects for 2021. She also stated that the Mt. Lebanon Police Department is working with an outside source to develop procedures and policies, including use of force.
Citizens Comments from the February 23, 2021, Mt. Lebanon Commission Meeting. M.O.R.E redacted the addresses before publishing because we value citizen privacy.

Thanks to your advocacy, Commissioner Mindy Ranney made a public statement on behalf of the entire commission at the February 23rd Commissioner meeting. Their official statement reads as follows:

“She [Comm. Mindy Ranney] stated that once a [use of force] policy is implemented, it will be made available to the public.”

M.O.R.E will take the Commission at their word and we plan to watch closely for the fulfillment of this promise. When we were updated on the MLPD’s progress in December, they told us that the policy will be issued in the Spring of 2021. We will continue requesting updates so that we may ensure that the Commissioners and the police keep their word.

Once their new policy is released, members of M.O.R.E’s Justice Reform Committee will work to ensure it centers human life and the dignity of all people including people of color and other diverse populations. Will you join us in these efforts?

M.O.R.E’s Justice Reform Committee meets every other Wednesday via Zoom. At these meetings, you will find many projects in the works that require the talents of people like you who are motivated by Black Lives Matter to make an ongoing difference to your community. Thank you.

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