Monday, February 24, 2025, 11:42AM |  35°
MENU
Advertisement
Leon Ford leaves the federal courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh in this Oct. 10, 2017 file photo.
3
MORE

City investigating after Leon Ford says officer was rude, gave him 'hateful glare'

Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette

City investigating after Leon Ford says officer was rude, gave him 'hateful glare'

The city of Pittsburgh is investigating an incident over the weekend in which a man shot and paralyzed by police in 2012 said an officer was rude to him.

Cmdr. Eric Holmes said Monday that the Office of Municipal Investigations is looking into the claim by Leon Ford against Officer Paul Jenkins.

Advertisement

Mr. Ford, who won millions in a lawsuit settlement over his shooting by police, said he was rolling his wheelchair on the North Shore on Saturday when he encountered Officer Jenkins.

Leon Ford speaks during an event to officially launch his campaign to run for Councilman of Pittsburgh City Council District 9, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at Repair the World in East Liberty.
Julian Routh
On anniversary of police shooting, Leon Ford launches city council campaign

He said on Facebook that he smiled at the officer and asked him, “What’s up?” but got a “hateful glare” in response.

He said he asked the officer what his problem was and said the officer did not respond. When Mr. Ford said he asked the officer for his name, Officer Jenkins said he didn’t have to speak to him and said that “I was only looking for another check,” a reference to the money the city paid to Mr. Ford for the shooting.

Cmdr. Holmes did not name the officer but the city said it was Officer Jenkins.

Advertisement

Officer Jenkins works in Zone 4 and has been on the force since 2005.

Officer Jenkins was moonlighting Saturday, Cmdr. Holmes said, and was wearing a body camera, but the commander said it’s not clear if he had it on. He said it also appeared from a video still of the confrontation that the officer did not have his name tag on, which the commander said is a violation of policy.

Cmdr. Holmes said all city officers are “ambassadors” for the city in dealing with the public and try to live up to that standard, but he said he could not comment on the details of the incident.

Officer Jenkins is the brother of Morgan Jenkins, a Pittsburgh police officer who was shot and paralyzed in Homewood in 2013 and now uses a wheelchair.

Leon Ford
Adam Smeltz
No dissent as Pittsburgh council finalizes settlement in Leon Ford case

Torsten Ove: tove@post-gazette.com.

First Published: August 27, 2018, 7:02 p.m.

RELATED
Leon Ford enters the federal courthouse on Oct. 5, 2017.
Tony Norman
Tony Norman: Wheels of fortune and misfortune for Leon Ford
Leon Ford waits to enter federal court in September.
Torsten Ove
Pittsburgh to pay paralyzed motorist Leon Ford $5.5M in federal court settlement
Leon Ford
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Judge sets retrial in Leon Ford excessive force case against Pittsburgh detective
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
Protesters gathered at the corner of Murray and Forbes avenues to speak out against the Trump administration's policies on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Squirrel Hill.
1
news
‘We will fight back’: Hundreds rally in Squirrel Hill in opposition of Trump, Musk and president’s administration
This undated photo provided by the Denver Police Department shows Andrew Duarte who served as a Denver police officer from 2017 to 2022.
2
news
Officer killed in York hospital shootout was PennWest California graduate
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden catches a pass against Ohio State during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
3
sports
Which positions are strong and weak at NFL combine? And how will Steelers approach this draft?
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
4
sports
Jason Mackey: Why the Andrew Heaney signing makes sense and what it could mean for the Pirates
Mississippi defensive tackle Walter Nolen (2) reacts after a sack against Wake Fores during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
5
sports
Steelers NFL draft big board: Best fits on defensive line
Leon Ford leaves the federal courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh in this Oct. 10, 2017 file photo.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Eric Holmes talks Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, on the North Side about police policy and the investigation into an officer's alleged encounter with Leon Ford over the weekend.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Eric Holmes talks Monday, Aug. 27, 2018, on the North Side about police policy and the investigation into an officer's alleged encounter with Leon Ford over the weekend.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story