Court filings say East Pgh. didn’t request Rosfeld file

Pitt says it properly documented his work

East Pittsburgh hired Michael Rosfeld without reviewing his employee file from the University of Pittsburgh, according to court documents.

Mr. Rosfeld, the former East Pittsburgh police officer who fatally shot 17-year-old Antwon Rose II in June, resigned from the Pitt police force about five months before being hired by the borough.

The revelation comes as Pitt last week responded to a lawsuit filed by Antwon’s parents, alleging that the school failed to properly discipline Mr. Rosfeld when he worked there and then allowed him to resign without any notice in his file of disciplinary action.

The university has said there is no basis for the lawsuit filed Dec. 10 in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court by Michelle Kenney and Antwon Rose Sr.

“The university properly

documented Rosfeld’s work performance while he was employed by the university,” Pitt said in its response to the allegations. “East Pittsburgh did not request from the university a copy of Rosfeld’s employee file. East Pittsburgh hired Rosfeld without reviewing Rosfeld’s employee file maintained by the university.”

East Pittsburgh officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

The lawsuit claims the university allowed Mr. Rosfeld to resign without any notice in his file after he was suspended following his arrest of three men in Oakland on charges that were later withdrawn.

Mr. Rosfeld was suspended in December 2017 — two days after he arrested Jacob Schilling, Timothy Riley and Daniel Humphrey at the Garage Door Saloon on Atwood Street in Oakland.

Charges were withdrawn after District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said he was told by his detectives that the allegations in the case did not match available video evidence.

Antwon’s parents said in the lawsuit that university officials knew Mr. Rosfeld filed false charges against the men and allowed him to resign instead of taking action against him.

The university, however, denied the majority of allegations Antwon’s parents made in the lawsuit.

“The university’s documentation of Rosfeld’s work performance at the university had no bearing on the shooting of Antwon Rose II,” Pitt said.

Mr. Rosfeld shot and killed Antwon, who was unarmed, as he ran from a traffic stop June 19. He was charged with homicide.

Mr. Rosfeld’s trial is slated to start Tuesday.