DEVELOPING STORY - Updated January 30, 2023
"If there is a tragedy involved, they will be fired and charges will be levied against them. We have to send a message"
Tim Stevens, Chairman / CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP), speaks with KDKA's Chris Hoffman on January 30, 2023.
Speaking with KDKA News Monday afternoon, Tim Stevens points to the culture that exists to enable police brutality.
"This was five Black officers killing a Black man, so it's in the culture. That piece of the culture needs to be uprooted thrown out and start over," Stevens said.
"Use this moment to reassert what has already been committed: that the Pittsburgh department and its officers will not operate anywhere close to what we saw". Tim Stevens, Chairman / CEO of B-PEP, talks with WTAE News January 30, 2023
Speaking with WTAE News, Tim Stevens continues to call for renewed attention to police policies and procedures, and the need to build a better police culture.
"When you're in a situation such as what we saw with Tyre Nichols, somebody has to say, 'Stop.' Somebody has to say, 'This is wicked, this is wrong, this is not the police procedures that we've been taught,'"
In a letter to city officials released on Monday, The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) is urging Pittsburgh Police to cease their controversial 'stop-and-frisk' policy as well as to end the practice of pulling motorists over for minor traffic violations, as these tactics lead to increased risks to Black and Brown residents.
The letter was sent Monday to Mayor Ed Gainey, City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, Chief Stangrecki, Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt, and Assistant Director David Jones.
Tim Stevens, CEO of B-PEP, called on leaders to prominently reject the tactics and actions of those Memphis Police Officers who beat and killed Tyre Nichols last month.
“These interactions provide yet additional opportunities for more possible negative interactions between citizens, and particularly between Black, brown and other marginalized people, and the Pittsburgh police”
Tim Stevens, Chaiman and CEO of B-PEP, urges city leaders to make changes in an open letter released Monday, January 30, 2023.
