Women Respond to Police Promotions

A couple of women's organizations came out to provide cover for the controversial police promotions. From the P-G's Rich Lord:

"The Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh has always had a very positive relationship with the city of Pittsburgh police," said Janet Scott, associate executive director of the haven for victims of abuse. The shelter helps train city police to respond to domestic calls.

From the Trib's Mike Cronin:

Ellen Adler, director of the legal department at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence in Harrisburg, agreed with (Deputy Police Chief) Donaldson.

"With no formal findings in court, no adjudication, on any of these officers, it's difficult to argue that they wouldn't be entitled to promotions," Adler said.

However, another Trib story by Mikes Cronin & Wereschagin features a whole slew of women-on-the-street who are unhappy about the promotions, including:

That police are usually the first responders is what concerns Cynthia Busis, executive director of the National Council of Jewish Women's Pittsburgh chapter in Squirrel Hill.

"These are the people that women call that are in domestic abuse situations," Busis said. "It does present a problem if those people have (domestic abuse) in their background."

And finally, this gem:

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who approved the promotions, could not be reached for comment. His spokeswoman, Joanna Doven, said the mayor would not discuss the promotions or their effects on women.

"He's not going to talk about that," Doven said.