Police Chief Tries To Shut Down Leaks From Officers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A memorandum from Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay criticizing unauthorized leaks to the public that "add credibility to our critics" brought a strong response from the Fraternal Order of Police.
"Police officers have First Amendment rights just like everyone else," FOP attorney Bryan Campbell told KDKA political editor Jon Delano on Wednesday.
In his memo, McLay ordered every police officer and civilian employee of the bureau to sign a statement promising not to disclose information.
"I have been involved with the FOP for over 43 years and this has never been done before," said Campbell.
Campbell says police officers know better than to disclose information that would compromise an investigation or endanger a fellow officer.
"I don't know of an officer who has ever been disciplined for doing that. I think everybody understands and knows what the rules are," he added.
But the chief insists that there have been leaks that "damaged the integrity of investigations" and Mayor Peduto, who saw the memo for the first time when KDKA showed him, backs up the chief.
"Last year I was brought in by the DA on two separate cases where information coming from our police bureau could have jeopardized the cases in two different homicide investigations," said the mayor.
The FOP says no one disagrees with rules about that. What's of concern is shutting down all police contact with the public by defining official information so broadly.
"This is the major problem I think," said Campbell. "The definition is so broad that it's meaningless."
The FOP is advising officers to sign the memo as ordered by the chief, but unless modified by McLlay the whole issue may end up in court or arbitration.
In the meantime, Peduto denies that it violates free speech rights or contradicts his call for more government transparency.
"We've actually been recognized as one of the most open governments in the country," Peduto insisted.
