Issue
Recruiting, promoting, training, and paying for an understaffed police bureau.
City Council
A 2024 review by police departments nationwide found a leadership issue in Pittsburgh's police bureau, a commander said. On March 25, council advanced a $20,000 state grant for leadership training. About 50 officers have been trained, but 200 hold supervisory roles, he said. The academy also trains county and Duquesne University police, and he hopes it'll turn a profit.
City Council
This year, the city approved police drone use in the field, and the bureau has now bought nine. The acting chief said they'll help officers gauge incidents, aid search and rescue, and document crime scenes. The money came from a trust fund that can only be used for unique purchases. Meanwhile, the mounted unit has eight new part-time riders.
City Council
Since 2015, a private company has run the city's police promotion exams for sergeant and lieutenant. Council now plans to take up a $74,000 extension so it can run them again next year. The company gives written and oral exams. It also brings in outside officers of the same rank or higher to assess candidates.
City Council
The police academy hasn't had a full class of 40 recruits since before the pandemic. A $40,000 request would pay for sales-style training for police recruiters. A city official said applications have risen to about 100 a month, crediting the bureau's full-time recruiters. Grant money the city already received would cover the cost.
City Council
Pittsburgh police are short on officers and looking for new ways to recruit. Now, the department has asked to spend $32,000 from a state grant on a recruitment video for social media and YouTube. It'd show officers in units such as K-9, SWAT, and River Patrol. Council was pleased to hear that more people are taking the civil service exam.
City Council
About 1,000 traffic calming requests are waiting, and the city can only complete 10 a year. Now, council is considering spending $130,000 to unlock $1.3 million in federal funds. The grant would pay for three demonstration sites and a design guide for 10 high-need corridors. Projects are prioritized using crash data, nearby schools, and other factors.