Pittsburgh Says Goodbye To Police Chief Cameron McLay
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Election Day will be the last day on the job for Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay.
He's resigning after only a couple of years on the job, but before he leaves for good, some community leaders wanted to let him know he won't be forgotten.
"Pittsburgh was blessed to have Chief McLay as our police chief," said Mayor Bill Peduto.
The city and the Alliance for Police Accountability gathered community leaders Monday night to thank the outgoing chief for making a difference.
"I've been doing this stuff for four and a half decades. We finally got someone we could all trust, was profoundly committed, and he feels the need to leave us, and we cannot blame him," said Tim Stevens, the chair of B-PEP.
While McLay's credited with improving community ties, his relationship with the police officers' union was strained.
Mayor Peduto said McLay knew that the job he was taking two years ago would not be easy.
"That's something that people who study leadership understand - the reformer doesn't stay beloved very long," Mayor Peduto said.
McLay himself celebrated Pittsburgh's officers as individuals, but called some of what comes out of the FOP, "noise."
"They don't speak for the Pittsburgh Police Bureau that I know," said McLay.
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The people who attended the gathering just hope the progress continues.
"I am hoping that we can find this trust again. I am hoping that we will continue the transparency that he has set forth," said Brandi Fisher, of the Alliance for Police Accountability.
The incoming chief says that's what his agenda is all about.
"Getting together with the different community groups and stakeholders, foundations, the FOP, and trying to just go down the path and finish what we started," said Assistant Chief Scott Schubert.
Assistant Chief Schubert will take over for McLay on Wednesday.
McLay is returning to Madison, Wisconsin.
