Members of a women's rights group angry about the promotions of three Pittsburgh police officers with allegations of domestic violence or disturbances in their pasts will vent their outrage at a public hearing Thursday.
Jeanne Clark, president of the Squirrel Hill chapter of the National Organization for Women, said police brass haven't adequately explained why the three men were promoted.
"Women and a fair amount of men are, frankly, pretty outraged about this," said Clark, of Shadyside. "The best they can tell us is 'trust us,' but they don't say why we should trust them."
On June 18, Chief Nate Harper and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl promoted Cmdr. George Trosky, Lt. Charles Rodriguez and Sgt. Eugene Hlavac.
Trosky was demoted in 1997 after he allegedly hit his wife; Rodriguez was charged with simple assault in April after police said he struck his daughter; and city police were summoned to Hlavac's home in March to investigate reports of screaming.
The three have declined to discuss the incidents in detail.
Trosky said his problems were "a lifetime ago" and "over with." The charges against him were dropped. Rodriguez was cleared by the Allegheny County Office of Children, Youth and Families, police said, but Ingram police charged him with simple assault for slapping his daughter April 29.
Police spokeswoman Diane Richard and Gigi Saladna, a Ravenstahl spokeswoman, said Harper will attend the hearing to listen to NOW's concerns.
On Thursday, Deputy Chief Paul Donaldson implored Pittsburghers to give the officers a chance.
Clark said she has asked domestic violence counselors, social workers and women's shelter workers to attend the public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in City Council Chambers, Downtown.
She expects a large crowd. Clark was unaware of efforts to organize a protest of the mayor, but she said members of NOW have been calling Ravenstahl's office to complain.
"People are very energized about this," Clark said.
City Council President Doug Shields said his office "has heard plenty about the decisions the mayor made." He said Clark filed a valid petition with at least 25 signatures to call for the public hearing.
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