Citizen Police Review Board hears G-20 complaints in Oakland

Citizens condemned some police actions during the G-20 Summit at the Citizen Police Review Board… Citizens condemned some police actions during the G-20 Summit at the Citizen Police Review Board meeting last night.

A mix of Pitt students and members of the community packed into a room at the Community of Reconciliation Church on North Bellefield Avenue.

At 6 p.m., the microphone went to several speakers who signed up beforehand. From 6:30 to 8 p.m., anyone in the crowd of about 75 people could volunteer to speak. All of the speakers reflected negatively on police conduct during the Summit.

Many of the speakers said they felt confused about directions given by police and police action taken without warning. Others said they spent hours outside after their arrest before being released.

David Tessitor said that he was in Oakland on Friday night and saw the police as “out of order.”

He said he feared the police department would not learn from what happened during the Summit.

“Our police can do better, they need to do better,” Tessitor said.

Several students who spoke wore signs with the acronym “WHAP,” which stands for “What Happened At Pitt.” The organization is a protest group that formed after the police action during the Summit, member Matthew Lynas said.

Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey attended the meeting. She said she wanted to hear what Pitt students had to say and that she felt concerned about the situation.

Citizen Police Review Board Director Elizabeth Pittinger said the board received 77 complaints of alleged police misconduct relating to the Summit.

The board will most likely hold a another public hearing on the police conduct during the Summit some time after the the board meets again in December, Pittinger said.

Pittinger encouraged people who still wished to file complaints to do so.

The board works on two levels, Pittinger said. It investigates individuals’ claims of police misconduct, as well as the administrative practices and decisions of the police department.

She said the report on the investigation will be made public record, and the city government can choose whether to take the suggestions made in the report.

The board works on two levels, Pittinger said. It investigates individuals’ claims of police misconduct, as well as the administrative practices and decisions of the police department.

She said the report on the investigation will be made public record, and the city government can choose whether to take the suggestions made in the report.