FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1997                       (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888
                                 
           JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH
                 PITTSBURGH POLICE DEPARTMENT 

     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice today
announced that it has reached an agreement with the city of
Pittsburgh that provides new and enhanced measures for operating
and managing the city's police force.

     The agreement, signed today by the two parties, establishes
a set of guidelines for the training, supervision, discipline and
complaint procedures of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Today's
agreement resolves an investigation by the Department into
allegations that the Pittsburgh police engaged in a pattern of
misconduct.  
  
     Under the 1994 Crime Bill, law enforcement agencies are
prohibited from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct
which violates the constitutional rights of individuals.  This
law gives the Justice Department the authority to seek civil
remedies in cases where it determines that a violation took
place.

     "Police officers in Pittsburgh and across the country have a
very difficult job to do every day," said Isabelle Katz Pinzler,
Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "The measures
outlined in today's agreement will help ensure that the
Pittsburgh police department becomes one of the best in the
country."

     Under today's agreement the city has agreed to take a number
of steps including:

-    increasing training for officers with multiple complaints
     filed against them;
     
-    monitoring all litigation involving officers as parties by
     the Office of Municipal Investigations (OMI); 

-    installing and implementing an automated early warning
     system to identify and track potential problem officers and
     to alert managers to other possible patterns of misconduct;

-    requiring officers to complete a report whenever they use
     force against an individual or conduct a search or seizure,
     including traffic stops.  This report will be reviewed by
     supervisors and entered into the automated early warning
     system for tracking and trend analysis; and,

-    hiring an independent auditor to monitor complaint
     investigations and compliance with the consent decree, and
     issue regular reports to the court, the city, and the
     Justice Department.

     The consent decree also outlines steps to increase community
awareness of police policies.    

     The Justice Department began looking into the practices of
the Pittsburgh police force in April of 1996 after receiving
complaints from citizens and community groups.  The complaints
addressed issues related to the use of force, search and seizure
procedures, and arrest procedures.

     The agreement is expected to be filed today in U.S. District
Court in Pittsburgh and still must be approved by the court.
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