A group of researchers aiming to reduce bias and improve police-community relations will travel to Pittsburgh this week to meet with officers and residents.
Their work is part of a federal pilot program run through the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice and focusing on six cities across the country.
The group, which includes some with backgrounds in law enforcement and some from academia, will meet one on one with representatives from local community groups, and will hold a public meeting in Larimer on Thursday night.
This will be the group’s fourth public meeting. Others have been held in Stockton, Calif.; Gary, Ind., and Fort Worth, Texas. Other cities participating in the pilot program are Minneapolis and Birmingham, Ala.
Thursday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Kingsley Association on Frankstown Avenue. It will begin with a brief presentation and then allow time for questions.
“We like to have conversations,” said project director Tracie Keesee. “We’re not heavy on the presentations. It’s an exchange in having questions answered about what this is and what this isn’t.”
Ms. Keesee said the group plans to arrive in Pittsburgh on Thursday and stay Friday. During that time, she said, it will meet with police Chief Cameron McLay, Mayor Bill Peduto, U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton and others, including representatives from some community groups she declined to name.
“The Pittsburgh community’s been really good about feedback,” Ms. Keesee said. “That’s what you want. You want an engaged community. I would be concerned if no one is concerned.”
The pilot program will run for three years, during which the researchers will work in each of the six cities. Specifics of the program will be determined after they hear from residents. Ms. Keesee said her group plans to return in the late fall or early winter.
Liz Navratil: lnavratil@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1438 or on Twitter @LizNavratil.
First Published: May 20, 2015, 4:00 a.m.