FOP Survey Results Show "No Confidence" In Pittsburgh Police Chief
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay released a statement Monday evening in light of the results of a survey of confidence conducted by the Fraternal Order of Police.
It was exactly two years ago this month when Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto named Cameron McLay Pittsburgh's new police chief.
Mayor Peduto wanted to reshape the police bureau, and both men are strong advocates of what's known as "community policing."
In an unofficial survey conducted online, that carries no official weight, about 300 Pittsburgh rank and file police officers voted overwhelmingly that they have no confidence in McLay's leadership.
The union holds a regular meeting later this week; and, at that time, it's expected the membership will take an official "no confidence" vote.
McLay came to Pittsburgh in September 2014 after retiring as a police captain in Madison, Wisconsin.
In a prepared statement, released late Monday night, McLay said:
"Any time a police chief attempts significant changes to an organization's approach to policing, cultural resistance and pushback are normal and inevitable. I fully expected such resistance when I came here. Facing confidence votes is simply one of the realities faced by major city police chiefs today.
"No-confidence votes only have such meaning as assigned to them by government officials. I cannot control any of this.
"The best metaphor is a car in a skid; you don't look in the direction the car is sliding, you look and steer where you want the car to go.
"I am focusing on keeping the Police Bureau moving in the same positive direction we have been heading. I am focusing on how to best meet the needs of my members and prepare them to meet the high standards of accountability placed upon them. It is our collective responsibility to serve this community well.
"I have great confidence in the hard-working officers who serve this community well every single day, and they will always be the focus of my efforts."
Mayor Peduto continues his staunch support for McLay.
He also released a statement saying he had full confidence in McLay and his efforts to improve the police bureau, adding that reform is never easy in any organization.
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