Recently, Pittsburgh police asked the leader of a “peaceful” protest several times to move a line of bicycles that was obstructing traffic flow at a busy intersection on a day when University of Pittsburgh students were moving back to campus in Oakland (“ ‘Low profile’ arrest creates firestorm as officials, experts blast Pittsburgh police tactic”). The 24-year-old protest leader, Matthew Cartier, refused, saying he “doesn’t listen to police.”

To avoid a scene that could escalate into a non-peaceful confrontation, the police used a “low-visibility arrest” technique to charge him with disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and obstructing the roadway.

Nine out of 10 people would likely say the Pittsburgh police handled this wisely. Not the police’s boss. Mayor Bill Peduto ripped the police for using an unmarked vehicle to aid the arrest. District Attorney Stephen Zappala and several city council members piled on; one likened the arrest to a hostile abduction.

Ironically, the good guys, the police, become the bad guys for doing their job while the lawbreaker is pitied because he was arrested “the wrong way.” Really?

Our police are good people. They do a very difficult job, yet they are continuously demonized by protesters, many political office holders and candidates, professional athletes and entertainers. The police deserve better.

Scott Brown

Greensburg

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