Pittsburgh hires high-profile medical examiner in labor arbitration case against officers involved in Jim Rogers' tasing death
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The city of Pittsburgh has hired a high-profile medical examiner in its labor arbitration case against officers involved in the death of Jim Rogers in 2021. Those officers were initially fired but are now fighting to get their jobs back.
Accused of stealing a bike and initially tased some 10 times after he refused to cooperate with police, Jim Rogers would eventually die a day later. The October 2021 incident resulted in a lawsuit in which the city agreed to pay out an $8 million settlement to Rogers' estate and fired or disciplined several officers allegedly involved.
"We are defending our position that we believe the actions of the officers caused the death of Jim Rogers," said Maria Montaño, a spokesperson for the city.
To support that belief, the city is paying $10,000 to Dr. Bennet Omalu to testify in upcoming labor arbitration hearings. The hearings will be held to potentially reinstate some of the officers involved to their jobs with back pay. Dr. Omalu is expected to give testimony that will rebut the medical expert hired by the police union.
"September 15 of 2023, the union notified us that they were hiring an expert witness, who was a medical witness, who was going to testify to the cause of Mr. Rogers' death," said Pittsburgh City Solicitor Krysia Kubiak.
Dr. Omalu is famous for his involvement in a lawsuit against the NFL to help players suffering from CTE, a form of brain damage from their playing days.
"We stand by the findings of Dr. Carl Williams, who is a very competent and professional medical examiner in this county, he's highly respected, and he ruled it accidental," said union president Robert Swartzwelder.
Whatever the decision, the arbitration labor hearings are binding.
"One hundred percent confident that they'll return to the force. I believe the evidence will demonstrate that this was an unfortunate death and the officers did not -- where we differ with the solicitor -- contribute to his death," Swartzwelder said.
