By Jamie Kelly, Bulletin editor

Residents were able to ask questions about some of their law enforcement-related concerns during the State of the Neighborhood meeting Sept. 17 at the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation Activities Center.
One concern raised with Lt. Anthony Cunningham, acting commander of Zone 5 Police Station, was graffiti on various walls in the neighborhood.
Cunningham explained that there are different kinds of people who spray paint walls.
“We see people who are artists and we see people who just want to cause mischief,” he said.
People are only allowed to spray paint areas with the owner’s permission, but the police only get involved when someone brings it to their attention.
The consequences can vary depending on how large an area needs to be cleaned and what the cost is. Depending on the level, the charge could be a misdemeanor or a felony.
Cunningham also went over the process if someone has a complaint about a police officer.
There are two bodies that look into complaints: The Civilian Review Board, which is made up of elected and appointed officials, and the Office of Municipal Investigations, which works like an Internal Affairs Department.
In both cases, the process is similar, Cunningham explained. Someone makes a complaint, the board or the department investigates and makes a recommendation about whether the complaint is founded to the Chief of Police, who then decides whether to accept the recommendation and, if so, what discipline is appropriate.
Disciplinary steps are set out in the collective bargaining agreement the police union has with the city, which is why the chief has the ultimate say — they are well-versed on city policy and the contract requirements.
Cunningham also touched briefly on the ways investigations into drug distribution can happen. When a complaint comes in, an officer will be assigned to patrol the area or block where the activity was reported and follow up. If there is need, the investigation can be handed off to either officers specially trained to investigate drug crimes or detectives, depending on the level of activity.
If an arrest is made, the case goes to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, which can decide on the level of charges and also help to determine if more investigation is warranted.
If there is a larger case to build, officers can work with both state police and federal departments, depending on the complexity and scope of the investigation.
A lot of what happens is up to the work of individual officers, which Cunningham said is a reason many people stay in law enforcement.
“That’s one of the reasons I love this job,” he said. “I don’t have a typical day.”