Pittsburgh police Chief Cameron McLay chose for an experimental new assignment a commander praised by some for his community involvement and criticized by others for his work outside the bureau.
Cmdr. Eric Holmes, who typically heads the Zone 2 station in the Hill District, began working in headquarters last week as “executive officer.” Many details of the position are in flux, but some of the executive officer’s duties in his first week resembled those that would have previously fallen to a deputy chief, which the bureau has not had since Paul Donaldson retired from that role earlier this year.
Chief McLay said the executive officer assignment is temporary while he decides how he wants to organize the bureau. He initially thought about hiring a civilian chief of staff with data analysis experience, but said he reconsidered that when he learned that Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are home to several people with expertise in criminal justice and data analysis.
The chief and Cmdr. Holmes said they intend to meet every Monday for the next few months to determine their priorities for the week and divide duties. Last week, Cmdr. Holmes said he spent time reviewing a U.S. Department of Justice report on the Ferguson, Mo., police department, reading through recommendations from a consultant, and perusing literature about community-oriented policing.
Having Cmdr. Holmes take over those duties “allows me to be two places in one time,” Chief McLay said.
The selection of Cmdr. Holmes puzzled some outside and inside the bureau. The commander was among several officers who organized a now-defunct private consulting business with former police Chief Nate Harper, who is serving a federal prison sentence on charges he conspired to steal from the bureau and failed to file income tax returns.
Cmdr. Holmes, with Harper’s approval, also worked a full-time job as interim head of Slippery Rock University’s police force while working as a sergeant in Pittsburgh. In 2013, while his Slippery Rock work was the subject of an internal investigation, Cmdr. Holmes attempted to copy part of his personnel file without authorization. His attorney said at the time that he had requested from the city time records of Cmdr. Holmes’ employment when it overlapped with his work at the university.
The bureau has weathered several controversies and undergone many changes in the past two years while federal and city investigators looked at the police bureau.
“With Eric being a prominent figure in that story, I am surprised” he was selected as executive officer, said Elizabeth Pittinger, executive director of the Citizen Police Review Board. “I don't know what to say about that.”
Chief McLay said he reviewed the Office of Municipal Investigations file on Cmdr. Holmes’ work and some material compiled by the FBI.
“There is no evidence to suggest Eric Holmes did anything wrong,” Chief McLay said. “I think it was a very good investigation.”
Chief McLay said there was no application process for the executive officer assignment because it is not a new, formal job title but rather a temporary assignment. Lt. Anna Kudrav is overseeing the Zone 2 station during Cmdr. Holmes’ time at headquarters.
Chief McLay said he selected Cmdr. Holmes for the executive officer assignment because he appreciated his outreach efforts with residents. The department has been trying to improve community relations after a number of incidents, including a teacher who was arrested after he yelled at a police car that sped past him while he was on the street.
The commander was part of a handful of officers and local community organizers who worked together to create an updated brochure advising residents of their rights and responsibilities when they encounter police. The brochure is expected to be unveiled today.
“Working on that ‘You and the Police’ brochure humanized Eric Holmes, and I recognize why it would be easy to entrust him with the obligations, the duties of the temporary position,” Ms. Pittinger said.
Cmdr. Holmes said he created regular “Commander on the Corner” meetings in his zone because he was inspired by public meetings former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., held before she was shot.
“He believes what I believe,” Chief McLay said.
First Published: March 16, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
