Grand Jury Hearing Continues To Consider Charges In Jim Rogers' Tasing Death
DORMONT, Pa. (KDKA) - Following the termination of five Pittsburgh police officers, possible criminal charges could come next in connection with the tasing death of Jim Rogers.
The grand jury continued the case of Rogers Thursday and will decide if any of the eight officers involved should face criminal charges. A group called Justice for Jim Rogers gathered in Domont to show support for the Rogers family and the witnesses called to testify.
"We want to be here to not only to show support for those eyewitnesses that have to give testimony to a terrible crime that has happened but also to continue to push for our demands that this needs to result in a conviction of these officers," said Devon Adwoa with Justice for Jim Rogers.
Out of eight Pittsburgh Police officers involved, Mayor Ed Gainey announced that five of them had been fired. Three of those eight were reinstated in what Gainey said he hopes is the beginning of police reform in Pittsburgh.
As witnesses showed up to testify at the grand jury hearing, Justice for Jim Rogers set up shop outside, calling for criminal charges.
"While it's a start to fire five officers, we know very well that in many of these cases, they go to arbitration and those officers get their positions back. We don't want to see that happen for obvious reasons. This is our community. These are our people. These officers committed a murder and they should not be allowed back in the community," Adwoa said.
Adwoa said she's friends with the Rogers family and they're keeping a close watch on the grand jury. She said she believes nobody involved should be able to wear a badge.
"Two of the officers that have already been subpoenaed and have been fired were community resource officers. These are quite literally officers that are meant to improve community relations and they killed a Black man as well," Adwoa said.
Since Rogers' death, the officers had been on paid leave while the city conducted an internal investigation and all of the officers appeared before a disciplinary panel.
All eight of the officers will be able to appeal the discipline and all are expected to within the two weeks given.
"He deserved to live a long life. He didn't deserve to lose his life at the hands of police officers," Mayor Gainey said. "I hope today is an important step forward in showing we can begin to build the police-community relations that we want to have for our city."
An attorney representing one of the officers says the firings are unwarranted.
"At the conclusion of that case, it will determine if the discipline will be upheld, modified, or even eliminated," said Bob Swartzwelder, the Fraternal Order of Police President.
