The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police announced Thursday that the majority of its policies are now published online. Those policies include the bureau's code of ethics, use of force policy and its rules on critical incidents, such as police-involved shootings that result in death or serious injury.
Police Chief Scott Schubert said that the move was part of the bureau's efforts to promote transparency.
"The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police believes strongly in being transparent," he said in a statement. "Transparency fosters trust."
The move comes just a couple of days after the city approved a settlement of $77,500 to Gabriel Despres, who was beaten by former Police Sgt. Stephen Matakovich in 2015. Matakovich is currently serving a 27-month prison sentence as a result of the incident.
Mayor Bill Peduto applauded the bureau's move of publishing the policies, saying it has made great strides in openness over the last five years.
"From sharing crime data to joining the National Initiative [for Building Community Trust & Justice] and this latest move to share its internal policies with the public," he said in a statement. "I want to thank the leadership of the bureau and every last member of the force for their dedication to both protecting and opening dialogue with the greater Pittsburgh community."
