Eating their Own : Police Chief who spoke at DNC is investigating another Police Chief who spoke at the DNC for breaking rules

Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay has asked the Office of Municipal Investigations and the Citizen Police Review Board to investigate his remarks at the Democratic National Convention.

Chief McLay, in full uniform, was in the national spotlight last week, appearing at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

His five-minute speech focused on improving relations and building more trust between law enforcement and minority communities. He did not make any endorsements.

Mayor Bill Peduto’s Office says McLay has now asked the Office of Municipal Investigations and the independent Citizen Police Review Board to investigate the appearance to, using the chief’s words, “ensure the integrity of his accountability system, that the rules were being evenly applied.”

Upon his return from Philadelphia, McLay responded to criticism from the Fraternal Order of Police Union that his DNC appearance was inappropriate and may have violated policy.

“There was no endorsing of any candidate. There was no endorsing of any particular objective,” McLay said. “I was simply getting the truth out of what needs to be said about what meaningful police reform needs to look like in this country on a much broader scale.”

The City Code says in part: “No officer or employee of the police department shall campaign for a candidate while on duty, or while wearing a uniform. Nor, may he or she identify himself or herself as an employee of the police department.”

Mayor Peduto said on Monday that it’s up to him to make a final decision on whether any rule was broken when OMI wraps up its investigation.