Homewood Football Program Feels 'Harassed' By Police
By Kym Gable
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's been over a year since three people were caught in the crossfire at a youth football game in Homewood.
Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper immediately put new regulations into place. But now, he says many of those rules aren't being followed.
In a Letter of Warning issued late Monday, the chief says during a compliance check on Saturday at Stargell Field in Homewood, nine violations were observed, including coaches without proper credentials, confrontational coaches and spectators, profanity and a field littered with garbage.
Brandon Murray, the director of operations for Homewood Community Sports, says all of the coaches had their credentials, but a few had left the ID's in their vehicles.
He told KDKA's Kym Gable, "They're looking to shut us down. They're not looking to work with us. They might say they are but they're not."
Parent Sakina Reid was at the field on Saturday. She said over a dozen officers, "filled the street up. They had dogs out. Nobody could get back into the game. It was terrible."
Parents and coaches told Gable they feel harassed and intimidated. The chief is threatening to revoke the league's permit and shut down the program if the organization does not come into compliance.
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