Harrisburg, July 12, 2018 – The state Senate and House Democratic Policy committees will hold a joint public hearing on ways to improve community-police relations on Tuesday, July 17 at 1 p.m. at Hosanna House, Wallace Event Center, 807 Wallace Avenue, Wilkinsburg, Pa., 15221.

The hearing is being held in Wilkinsburg at the request of Senate Democratic leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Representative Edward Gainey (D-Allegheny). The committees will take testimony on numerous proposals that would improve relations between police officers and the communities they serve, such as additional training and diversity education for law enforcement.

The hearing will be jointly chaired by state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh) and state Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster).  Senators Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) and James Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), as well as Representatives Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) and Austin Davis (D-Allegheny) will also participate.

Expected testifiers will include:

  • Allegheny County Police Superintendent Coleman J. McDonough;
  • American Civil Liberty Union Legislative Director Elizabeth Randol;
  • Dr. Cyril Wecht, forensic pathologist and medical-legal consultant;
  • Police Chief Ophelia Coleman, Wilkinsburg Borough; and
  • Leon Ford, writer and advocate, Leon Ford Speaks.

The hearing is open to the public and media coverage is welcome.