PITTSBURGH \u2014 A Pittsburgh Police Academy trainee resigned after being accused of shoplifting a $9 set of Pok\u00e9mon cards from a Target store in Monroeville. Sources informed 11 Investigates that the trainee was wearing a Pittsburgh Police Academy shirt during the incident.<\/p>\n
The recruit had recently started instruction at the academy located on Pittsburgh\u2019s North Side before supposedly failing to scan the merchandise at the store checkout.<\/p>\n
A second recruit who had completed the academy and started field training was fired.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sources told 11 Investigates that the trainee made inappropriate comments to a female officer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was fired by the city.<\/p>\n
Beth Pittinger, executive director of the Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Board, described the recruit\u2019s actions as \u201cridiculously immature behavior\u201d and stated that such outcomes occur when recruitment criteria are reduced.<\/p>\n
Pittinger pointed to a decision by the city\u2019s prior administration to drop the mandate requiring 60 college credits for academy admission after experiencing a consistent decline in applicants.<\/p>\n
Pittinger stated that the situation highlights broader concerns regarding recruit qualifications. S<\/p>\n
he said the incident suggests \u201csocial inexperience, a lack of personal maturity and deficits in analytical and problem-solving abilities, as well as challenges in interacting with individuals who are not like they are.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the incident, Pittinger noted that the swift disciplinary action should serve as a positive sign for the community.<\/p>\n
She stated that because both individuals involved were terminated, it ought to help rebuild a degree of confidence in the current administration\u2019s efforts to regain trust regarding officer conduct.<\/p>\n
11 Investigates learned that charges are expected to be filed soon in the Pok\u00e9mon card case.<\/p>\n
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