Catherwood LibraryILR School

The president of Pittsburgh’s police union Robert Swartzwelder accused the city of discrimination on the basis of anti-union animus. The allegation stems from an email for which he was disciplined where he criticized the U.S. Attorney’s office’s prosecution of an officer convicted of police brutality. The incident happened while an officer was working off-duty as a security guard for Landmark Event Services, a company that provides security for Heinz Field. Swartzwelder’s email sent to members in May said that the convicted officer was unfairly prosecuted and warned against taking off-duty employment at Heinz Field. He was reprimanded for the email and required to attend counseling, but Swartzwelder says that his speech was protected under law. A phone conference has been scheduled by the labor board for February 13, and if an impasse is reached a hearing will take place on April 23.