Pittsburgh police have unveiled changes to their response protocols to address staffing challenges, signaling a shift away from officers attending calls not classified as “in-progress emergencies.”
Calls falling outside the realm of immediate emergencies will now be directed to a telephone recording unit, offering a platform for filing reports over the phone, WPXI Channel 11 reports.
From 3 am to 7 am, the city’s six police stations will function without desk officers, leaving approximately 20 officers to cover overnight shifts for the entire city.
During this period, emergency call boxes linked to 911 will remain accessible for urgent situations. The telephone reporting unit will handle calls related to theft, harassment, criminal mischief, and burglary alarms.
Officers will still respond, however, to “in-progress emergencies” involving medical aid, domestic disputes, evidence-related calls, or requests for the Mobile Crime Unit to process a scene, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police specified in a statement.
Seeking to assuage resident concerns, Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto underscored the sufficiency of these measures, highlighting the staffing plan’s tailored response to limited resources during overnight hours.
“There is not any data to support us having our zones manned by personnel from 3 am to 7 am. For the very one-off instance, I can’t make an exception,” stated Scirotto.
The Pittsburgh Police Officers’ Union voiced reservations about the policy adjustments, directly linking them to the department’s understaffing.
Union President Bob Swartzwelder shed light on the challenges faced by officers and cautioned against potential contract violations arising from the police department’s overcommitment and under-resourcing.
“The staffing plan designed by police command is a direct response to a seriously understaffed police department,” asserted Swartzwelder in a statement. “Only time will tell if the plan works or the Chief will need to pivot and modify his plan quickly.”
Swartzwelder emphasized the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) would vigilantly monitor any contract violations, particularly during non-emergency events like St. Patrick’s Day, parades, large concerts, and July 4th.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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