Mayor Peduto Says He Supports Police Chief's Decision To Fire Sgt. Accused In Scuffle
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto says he stands 100 percent behind Police Chief Cameron McLay in the case of the police sergeant charged with assaulting a fan at Heinz Field last fall while making an arrest.
Chief McLay has suspended 47-year-old Sgt. Stephen Matakovich, pending termination later this week.
Matakovitch was seen on surveillance video scuffling with a teenager outside the stadium last November.
Matakovich was charged with using excessive force, but the charges were dismissed last week by a judge.
However, the Allegheny County District Attorney is refiling the charges, and Chief McLay says he supports the decision.
Mayor Peduto told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "At this point, not only the police chief, but the D.A., the FBI and our own police experts in the use of force all agree something went wrong."
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
The attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police says Matakovich will appeal his firing next week at a hearing with the new director of Pittsburgh Public Safety.
If the firing is upheld, the union will seek arbitration to try to get Matakovich's job back.