Following the Thanksgiving shooting of a Moroccan cab driver in Hazelwood, Pittsburgh police Chief Cameron McLay has pledged to work on building trust between his department and the city’s Muslim community.
During a public meeting at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh in Oakland on Saturday, the chief shared a list of commitments that stemmed from a Wednesday meeting he had with community leaders in response to the shooting. The list included implementing cultural competency training for officers and having liaisons to mediate issues of concern with the Muslim community.
“I’m proud to commit to this partnership to tighten our relationship and serve this community better,” the chief said.
Last week, the Islamic Center demanded the arrest of the shooter, later identified by police as Anthony L. Mohamed, 26, of Hazelwood, and also for the police department to categorize the shooting as a hate crime.
Chief McLay said Saturday that the investigation continues but that it is being looked at as a potential hate crime.
“What the ultimate determination of the motive in this particular crime will be remains to be seen,” he said.
Wasi Mohamed, executive director of the Islamic Center, said the 38-year-old victim, who was released from UPMC Mercy on Tuesday, was happy that police made an arrest and that the department is going to work to try to make sure similar incidents don’t occur.
“He’s very hopeful that that’s what’s going to happen and this is going to lead to some positive change,” said Mr. Mohamed, who said that the center itself has received threats and that Islamophobia is becoming more common.
“We’re hoping that initiatives like this can really help the community move on from this, and start feeling safer in the streets of Pittsburgh, and this doesn’t lead to any longer-lasting fear in people,” he said.
Lana Shami, 48, of Mt. Lebanon has not experienced threats based on her religion but said she still feels unsafe “to a certain extent.”
She has taken to wearing her hijab in a way that looks less Islamic or avoiding public places while wearing it in general.
“I always felt like Pittsburgh is one of the most embracing towns, and lately people are truly scared of me and that’s sad to me, very sad,” Ms. Shami said.
Madasyn Czebiniak: mczebiniak@post-gazette.com: 412-263-1269 @PG_Czebiniak
First Published: December 6, 2015, 5:00 a.m.
