PITTSBURGH \u2014 Pittsburgh\u2019s police chief is reacting to Channel 11\u2019s exclusive report about the decision to fire a police officer involved in a high-speed chase.<\/p>\n
Chief Investigator Rick Earle broke the story earlier this week that Chief Jason Lando wanted a different disciplinary action, but was overruled by the public safety director. <\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Public Safety Director overrules chief, calls for city officer involved in chase to be punished<\/a><\/p>\n The chief says he stands by his decision to call for a two-day suspension, but the public safety director has moved to fire the officer. <\/p>\n Dramatic surveillance video shows the SUV crashing and rolling on Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg last November. Four cars were hit by the speeding SUV and nine people were injured.<\/p>\n PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 9 people injured in large crash in Wilkinsburg after driver flees police<\/a><\/p>\n 11 Investigates learned exclusively that a Pittsburgh police officer who stopped the car minutes earlier for an illegally tinted window and then chased the vehicle for a short time after the driver took off was given a five-day suspension pending termination by Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams. <\/p>\n On Friday morning, Lando defended his decision. <\/p>\n \u201cI made the decision I felt was appropriate in the moment based on my comments with the officer and that\u2019s really all I can comment on,\u201d Lando said.<\/p>\n Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams has declined to comment. So has the union that represents the officer.<\/p>\n Sources tell 11 Investigates that officers are not allowed to chase for a vehicle code violation and they say even though the officer broke off the chase, he continued driving at a high rate of speed without his lights and sirens. <\/p>\n The executive director of the citizen police review board, Beth Pittinger, says the message from the public safety director is loud and clear. <\/p>\n \u201cI think what we\u2019re hearing is, look, our standard is higher, the expectation is there and you will reach it,\u201d Pittinger said.<\/p>\n Sources tell 11 Investigates that the officer presented his case at a hearing before the public safety director. <\/p>\n The director now has two weeks to decide whether to uphold the firing or reduce it. <\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n TOP STORIES FROM CHANNEL 11 NEWS <\/p>\n \u00a92026 Cox Media Group<\/p>\n