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Pittsburgh has been “well served” by its Citizen Police Review Board but could use more funding and outreach, City Controller Michael Lamb said after releasing an audit of its operations Wednesday.
After the board was established by a 1997 voter referendum, he said, “there was significant hostility between the review board and the police bureau. But over time, crediting both the police and ... the board members, we've got a situation now where we have much greater cooperation. … And that’s been great for Pittsburgh.”
The board receives and investigates complaints about police misconduct, carrying out investigations and public hearings where it deems warranted. During the administration of Mayor Bill Peduto, it has processed about 600 complaints a year, a slight but noticeable decline from years before.