A pastor presiding at the funeral service for an Allentown man killed by a Pittsburgh police K-9 handler took to the pulpit yesterday and blasted news media coverage, police K-9 procedures and a local radio talk show.

Bishop Otis L. Carswell delivered the fiery service at Potter's House Cathedral in Mount Oliver to more than 100 mourners. They sat and prayed for Justin J. Jackson, 19, whose picture adorned a T-shirt draped over his casket.

"There needs to be a reformation in our city, a straightening of something that is not quite right. The status quo can no longer work in our city. No more business as usual in our city," Bishop Carswell said.

Pittsburgh police Officer Christian A. Sciulli fatally shot Mr. Jackson May 6 along Arlington Avenue in Mount Oliver. The case is under investigation by the Allegheny County district attorney's office.

Police said Mr. Jackson had a gun in his hands and that Officer Sciulli released his K-9 partner, Ulf, to subdue him. Police said Mr. Jackson shot the dog dead and the officers returned fire.

Mr. Jackson's family disputes the police account and maintains that the teenager did not have a gun.

Bishop Carswell, who was driving past the scene during the incident, acknowledged he did not see the full sequence of events because a police car blocked his vision in the rear-view mirror.

He said, however, "We don't feel like this was a justified shooting."

"I saw no gun," Bishop Carswell said after the service. "I saw [the officer] going toward Justin with the dog. Justin did not threaten them."

Bishop Carswell told his congregation that police need to disseminate information about what steps to take when confronted by police K-9s. He said he only recently learned that a police dog will not attack if suspects take certain actions.

Police spokeswoman Diane Richard yesterday said she believes that if someone gives up, is compliant and puts their arms above their head, "then the dog will sit in front of them and bark."

"Why was that information with held from us, the people who police dogs are usually put on?" Bishop Carswell asked.

Ms. Richard questioned why the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police would have publicized such information.

"Until a circumstance arises like that why would we?" she said. "I can understand what the person is asking. But my question to that would be if this terrible incident would have never occurred, is that something that the public would still be asking? Would that question have come up?"

Bishop Carswell noted that he did not personally know the Jackson family until the shooting occurred. But he criticized media stories about Mr. Jackson, who was arrested for assault as both a juvenile and an adult, saying the coverage inaccurately "painted a picture like he was such a horrible young man."

Bishop Carswell also called for a boycott of KDKA Radio and KDKA-TV for what he called "racist, insensitive propaganda" aired about the incident on Fred Honsberger's talk show last week.

Marshall Adams, KDKA Radio's program director, shrugged off the threat.

"That sort of thing happens all the time when someone doesn't like what they hear on a KDKA talk show," Mr. Adams said.

Bishop Carswell also addressed his call for reformation to his congregation, saying there needed to be change from within to stem black-on-black violence and to reinforce that "all cops aren't bad."

"We do pray for our police officers," Bishop Carswell said. "It's a tough situation to be in."

Also yesterday, state Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, announced that he has secured a Department of Community and Economic Development grant for $10,000 to cover the purchase and training of a new police dog.