Pittsburgh cops file grievance for uniform rules

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The city’s uniformed police officers have been given more time to comply with new rules that they wear bullet-proof vests under their shirts and not wear baseball-style caps, even as their union filed a grievance to prevent the changes.

Stephen Bucar, a former FBI supervisor hired as the city’s public safety director in June, agreed to delay the new rules until Sept. 10, according to a memo obtained by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The rules were to have taken effect Monday, but are being delayed, in part, because the more formal uniform hats Bucar wants officers to wear weren’t available in time.

Meanwhile, the Fraternal Order of Police filed a grievance, saying officers have developed rashes or have found wearing the vests under their shirts were too hot or restrictive. The union also argues the more formal hats are “cumbersome,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.