PITTSBURGH (AP) — Authorities in Pittsburgh say the
Department of Justice has agreed to provide civil-rights issues training to
police academy recruits.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ( ) reports Friday that city
solicitor Dan Regan says the plan is still in the early stages.
A city audit released Thursday documented 40 civil-rights
lawsuits filed against various city departments from Jan. 1, 2009, through June
30, 2011.
In a response to the audit Regan cited plans to have the
U.S. attorney's office provide training. Regan tells the paper the program will
focus on recruits but could be expanded to veteran officers if needed.
In 1997, the police bureau was placed under federal
oversight because of civil-rights concerns. Most oversight provisions ended in
2002 and the rest ended in 2005.