Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Allegheny County Councilman Bill
Robinson wants his colleagues on council to look into possible conflicts of
interests in cases involving citizens' claims of police misconduct.
The Hill District Democrat on
Tuesday introduced a resolution calling for a council investigation of the
district attorney's office.
District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala
Jr.'s prosecutors rely on police officers to testify in thousands of criminal
cases each year, he said. That "close daily cooperation ... creates, at a
bare minimum, the appearance of a conflict of interest for the district
attorney when local police officers may have been involved in criminal
actions," his resolution says.
Mr. Robinson's proposal was sent to
council's public safety committee for review.
Several council members said they
believed council was overstepping its authority. Councilman Michael Finnerty,
D-Scott, said the wording of the resolution seemed "sort of like a threat
in regard to funding" for Mr. Zappala's office.