Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper promised a raft of changes in police procedure today aimed at better handling accusations of domestic abuse against officers, saying they will take effect within 45 days.

The chief said that he hopes to start involving the Allegheny County District Attorney's office in every call to a police officer's house for a domestic disturbance. Those are currently handled by Police Bureau supervisors.

"I feel that's a necessary step at this point, that the DA's office intervenes. ... That's not in place yet. Hopefully within 45 days we'll have a news conference and we'll let everyone know that everything has taken place."

He said rules are being developed that could result in an abuse allegation, or a protection-from-abuse order, being disqualifiers from hiring or promotion within the bureau. All domestic violence allegations also will be investigated internally, he said.

He said current policy that allows officers who are subject to a PFA to carry a gun while on duty, if the court permits that, will continue.

"We're required to respect that court order," he said.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl watched the hearing on city cable from his office and was briefed by staff afterward, a spokesperson said.

During the four-hour hearing, advocates for women demanded a series of improvements to law enforcement's handling of domestic violence. The hearing was spurred by complaints about the June promotions of three police officers who have faced family abuse allegations.

Shirl Regan, executive director of the Women's Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh, encouraged the involvement of the district attorney's office. Currently, police supervisors must go to the scene and determine whether an arrest should be made when complaints involve officers.

National expert David R. Thomas argued that while all professions include batterers, police who are abusers can be uniquely able to avoid the negative consequences.

"If that abuser is an officer, they're going to be very familiar with the court process and very familiar with the personnel" investigating the matter, said Mr. Thomas. Police also can use physical force techniques that leave no marks, and easily can find women's shelters to which victims might flee, he said.

Mr. Thomas, a former police corporal, teaches domestic violence-related courses in Johns Hopkins University's Police Executive Leadership Program, helped write model policies on the issue and consults with departments.

"The immediate thing that can be done is the cameras for each police car," said Ms. Regan, estimating a cost of $25,000 for all city squad cars. The bureau could then institute a policy that photos should be taken at every domestic violence call.

Pictures of injuries have "made all the difference in the world" in prosecuting domestic violence cases, said Deputy District Attorney Darrell Dugan.

Advocates pushed for the return of a federally backed program that existed from the late 1990s through 2001, under which the Police Bureau had a detective specializing in domestic violence, and a family abuse officer in each zone station.

"We think it's vitally important to have a specialist [on family violence] appointed to each zone," said Mr. Dugan.

The first part of the wide-ranging four-part meeting dealt with the overall domestic violence problem, which one speaker said led to 1,200 arrests, the filing of 3,555 protection-from-abuse orders, and 18 homicides in Allegheny County last year. The second part involves perspectives on domestic violence cases involving police. The third is a review of city personnel procedures related to family abuse accusations. The fourth is a summary.

At least 34 city police officers currently on the job have been accused in court protection-from-abuse order petitions of stalking, threatening and verbally or physically abusing their spouses, significant others, former domestic partners or a family member. A review of court records found no successful domestic violence prosecutions of current Police Bureau employees who have been the subject of PFAs.

New Cmdr. George T. Trosky was arrested in 1997 for breaking the nose of his then-wife, whose failure to appear in court led to charges being dropped. Also promoted were Lt. Charles Rodriguez, who saw his daughter drop simple assault charges against him in July, and Sgt. Eugene F. Hlavac, whose arguments with his girlfriend prompted two police calls to his home and anger management counseling this year. None have been the subject of PFAs.

The promotions prompted women's advocates to demand today's meeting.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.