Penn Hills reverses decision on hiring former Wilkinsburg police officer under investigation in shooting death

Penn Hills community members and activists celebrated Monday after the Municipality of Penn Hills pivoted on the hiring of former Wilkinsburg police officer Robert Gowans.

Penn Hills council held an emergency meeting Monday afternoon that resulted in letting Gowans go, after facing backlash from the community over his hiring in April.

Gowans is under investigation in the shooting death of 24-year-old Romir Talley on Dec. 22, 2019, in Wilkinsburg. Gowans was on duty as a Wilkinsburg officer. Allegheny County police say that Wilkinsburg police, in response to a 911 call, were in pursuit of Talley and that he fired one round at an unidentified police officer who returned fire.

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the case.

Gowans is also facing a federal lawsuit from the Talley family accusing him of using excessive force. The complaint states that Gowans shot Talley seven times, including once in the head.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the borough of Wilkinsburg, Gowans, police Chief Ophelia Coleman and Mayor Marita Garrett. There is also an unnamed female officer listed as a defendant, who the complaint said was acting as Gowans’ partner the night of the shooting.

Councilman John Petrucci said the situation was overlooked when Gowans was hired in Penn Hills and that council took action when the issues were brought to their attention.

Council was “outraged,” Petrucci said, that they weren’t made made aware of Gowans’ hiring.

“I think the decision that was made today to release him from the Municipality of Penn Hills was a right decision,” Petrucci said.

Penn Hills manager Scott Andrejchak had made the final call to hire the former police officer.

The news of Gowans’ Penn Hills hiring prompted some community members to voice their concerns and displeasure with the possibility of Gowans policing their neighborhoods. A rally was held in front of the municipal building, where council members gathered to speak on the situation.

Fawn Montgomery, co-founder and executive director of Take Action Mon Valley, said the decision was a “small victory” for the community, but the fight was not over.

“I hope this shows them that there is power in them speaking up but not that they should give up,” she said.

Attorney Paul Jubas, who is representing the Talley family, said the family was “irate” over the Penn Hills hiring.

“There has been no accountability whatsoever when it comes to this officer,” he said. “How a police department could hire an officer that killed somebody and an investigation is still open is beyond me.”

He spoke at the rally and said the hiring of Gowans was a clear message to the rest of the Penn Hills police force.

“Even if you have an open investigation into the murder of one of the citizens, they are still willing to hire you,” Jubas said,

The reaction to Gowans’ hiring was also met with shock and concern across social media channels from some members of the Penn Hills community.

April Chism, a Penn Hills resident, said she believes Gowans should not be able to get another job while under investigation.

“That’s not fair he is able to apply without someone knowing what fully happened in the situation,” Chism said.

Marta Regus, a Penn Hills resident and rally attendee, said she was “ecstatic” about the decision.

“I am just happy that they made that decision to listen to the residents and make our community feel safe again until he is either proven innocent or guilty,” she said.