Pittsburgh -- Critics are sounding off about three of the four Pittsburgh police officers who were promoted on Monday.

Cmdr. George Trosky was bumped up from homicide detective. Lt. Charles Rodriguez was promoted from sergeant and Sgt. Eugene Hlavac, who was an officer.

All three have had run-ins with the law over domestic issues. Now some are putting their promotions under scrutiny.

"I would hope the mayor would more fully vet the candidates or more fully discuss or give a good reason as to why that would happen," said City Council President Doug Shields.

"Each one of these individuals has served this city very well," said Police Union President Jim Malloy. "They have the opportunity to demonstrate that they will continue to do well. I think the test of time will show that they were good choices."

"Obviously there seems to be a pattern, and I think it's incumbent upon the mayor to let the public know what the criteria was that he used in finding these officers," said councilman Bill Peduto.

Hlavac's non-violent verbal domestic dispute at his home while on duty triggered a police response by fellow officers in March. It was followed by a transfer.

"Gene is an aggressive police officer," Malloy Said. "Now, I expect him to be an aggressive sergeant. You know, every man should have a right to succeed or fail. The chief gave Gene a chance to succeed. I expect Gene to do very well as a sergeant."

"The public isn't going to view it that way, and it's going to raise eyebrows, and it begins to question the integrity of what we're trying to do here as a city," said Shields.

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