How should police be evaluated?

In response to the June 18 article “Peduto Names Task Force on Police Reform in Pittsburgh,” an important question often overlooked in analyzing police misconduct is how police are evaluated. When police are evaluated primarily on their arrest numbers and clearance rates, they are incentivized to violate procedural law in making unlawful street stops and unlawful searches.

Would the outcome in the Jordan Miles case have been different if the police were evaluated on their compliance with procedural law rather than their arrest rates?

How much of the police academy curriculum is about learning and following the practices of procedural law? Also importantly, do the instructors communicate that procedural law compliance is a critical aspect of police work? Do they tell police recruits that following procedural law is their duty and that rules of procedural law are the supreme law of the land?

In the 1960s, the Warren court developed case law regarding evidence being inadmissible in court if police violated procedural law. The court felt that this was the only way they could deter police misconduct.

Although this is only one factor that influences racial profiling, when the ways police are evaluated are changed, racial profiling may change as well. Compliance with procedural law then becomes a high priority measure of police performance and evaluation. This issue needs to be on the city’s task force agenda.

JOHN KENSTOWICZ

Morningside

Support officers

As the wife of a police officer and as a former police dispatcher, I would like to express my distaste in how Gov. Tom Wolf has exhibited himself in light of the death of George Floyd.

It is appalling that he chose to march with those carrying signs that say “blue lives murder.” I do not support racism in any form, but I also do not support the categorizing of all police officers as racist murderers.

The governor has contributed to the dehumanization of the people from all races and religions that have chosen to wear a badge, including those who are assigned to protect him on a daily basis. He has contributed to the politicization of a man’s death at the hands of four bad police officers.

Does the governor actually believe he is representing the beliefs of every person that chose him? These protesters are fighting for a group of people they believe are being painted with a broad brush, but that same thing is now being done to our police officers. He has displayed that he wants police officers to not view a whole race as criminals but is accepting of those who view all police officers as potential murderers. How very hypocritical and sanctimonious of him.

Our police officers have enough to worry about without sweeping, knee-jerk reform. This will only contribute to them having to second-guess split-second decisions that could potentially save a life or risk them losing their life. I’m sure the governor will continue to martyr a criminal and ignore voices like mine because that is the cry of the left’s cancel culture.

HILARY BUDD Finleyville

We need reform

Pennsylvania House and Senate leaders are letting the clock run out on redistricting reform again.

Statewide polls found that two-thirds of Pennsylvanians support an independent commission, free of political influence and operating in total transparency. In Allegheny County, 97% say gerrymandering is a problem and 76% believe an independent commission is the way to solve it.

There is no doubt state legislators also want fair districts and fair elections. Almost half of our legislators in the state House and state Senate are cosponsors of H.B. 22/23 and S.B. 1022/23 to form an independent redistricting commission, respectively. The support is bipartisan.

But, leaders are blocking committee votes and a fair upor-down vote on the floor of both chambers. As they did in 2018, leaders, again, are preventing our legislators from representing us.

This is unacceptable. Bills with significant legislator and constituent support must get a vote.

Our democratic values of representation in government and that each person has one equal vote seem to have perished in Harrisburg.

We must resolve that this state “shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish” — Abraham Lincoln.

Urge our legislators to reform the rules and restore our democratic values in Harrisburg. CONNIE HESTER

Shaler