And it costs.”Īccording to city spokesperson Tim McNulty, there are several reasons for the police budget’s increase. And that kind of policing looks like it’s unaccountable to anyone. “We’re not merely paying for uniforms and hardware… we’re paying for the kind of policing we’re now seeing on our TV screens, on our phones, on our laptops, over and over. She said settlements for civil lawsuits against the police can cost cities hundreds of thousands of dollars. Lenese Herbert, a professor at Howard University School of Law, noted that not all police-related costs are included in the police budget. Larry Likar, professor and chair of La Roche University’s Department of Justice, Law, and Security, said cities like Pittsburgh often have large police budgets for several reasons: the need to keep up with new technology, like body cameras the “unpredictable” nature of policing in cities, which requires additional resources so that police are quickly able to respond to different types of incidents and expensive training. “Police departments tend to be fairly expensive propositions because they’re labor-intensive, and people cost money,” he said. Pittsburgh spends roughly $382 per capita annually on policing. We broke down some key statistics on Pittsburgh’s police budget, compared it to other cities and questioned experts on the challenges and potential of shifting resources.Īccording to Dennis Kenney, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who specializes in policing, Pittsburgh’s police budget is “on the light side.” He said most cities of a comparable size allocate 25% to 30% of their budgets to police. Public officials in at least 16 cities, including Minneapolis, New York and Los Angeles, have begun taking steps to reduce police resources. Supporters argue that defunding the police isn’t as radical as it may sound because as money is reallocated, so are responsibilities. Many calling for reforms say it does not mean scrapping police departments entirely - though some activists have called for abolishing the police altogether because they don’t believe reform will work. What does “defund the police” mean? Is it viable? And what does Pittsburgh’s police budget currently look like?ĭefunding would involve reimagining public safety by taking money from police budgets and diverting into other services like violence prevention programs, social work and mental health services that may reduce crime. The driver fled the traffic stop, nearly taking out a fire hydrant on Park Avenue.In the wake of George Floyd’s death by a police officer in Minneapolis and other cases of police brutality, activists and Democratic lawmakers across the country are calling for the “defunding” of police departments. Officers also noticed the vehicle, a Cadillac sedan, had temporary Michigan license plates.ĭuring the stop, the driver produced fraudulent motor vehicle documents, and sped off after police asked him to step out of the vehicle for further discussion. The driver was initially pulled over by police for improperly changing lanes on West 39th Street and 7th Avenue. The man then left through the back door and that's when the chaotic scene unfolded. Prior to the chase, as shown in footage obtained by Eyewitness News last month, the suspect was seen arguing with another man while entering a Midtown business before asking an employee to use the bathroom. Police arrested 56-year-old Benjamin Abrams on Saturday following the April 19 incident that struck two police officers and left an outdoor dining structure destroyed. MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) - The NYPD made an arrest in connection to the wild car chase that rocked Manhattan last month. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream
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