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Two Braddock officers suspended after they fight at police station
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Two Braddock police officers have been suspended after getting into a fight at the police station late Thursday.
Mayor John Fetterman said the incident occurred about 11:30 p.m., toward the end of their shifts. The officers weren't injured in the "very short" altercation, which Mr. Fetterman described as "over before it started."
"Unfortunately, a line was crossed," he said, adding that the incident will be investigated to find out what caused the fight and whether any disciplinary action should be taken.
Mike Manko, spokeswoman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., confirmed the office is investigating the matter.
Mr. Manko said a Taser was involved in the incident, but he wasn't sure how it was used, as the office had not yet received reports from Braddock police.
Police Chief Frank DeBartolo could not be reached Friday.
The fight ended when the men realized they were behaving inappropriately and another officer in the room broke up the fight, Mr. Fetterman said.
Both men are on hourly pay, so they are now effectively suspended without pay.
Mr. Fetterman stressed that both men are good police officers, noting one saved five people from a fire in Rankin in December 2011. The Braddock officers were responding to the fire because Rankin police were assisting Duquesne police on another incident.
"These are not rogue officers," Mr. Fetterman said. "This is an isolated incident."
First Published March 9, 2013 12:00 am
