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In a significant overhaul of its operations, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police recently introduced several new policies aimed at streamlining responses to calls and enhancing officer wellness.
These changes mark a departure from traditional policing methods and have sparked both support and concern from various stakeholders.
One of the key initiatives introduced is the establishment of a new Telephone Reporting Unit tasked with responding to calls that do not necessitate an in-person response by officers.
According to Chief Larry Scirotto, this unit will handle reports such as burglary alarms, theft, criminal mischief, and harassment through call centers or online reporting methods.
The aim is to reduce the workload of officers and prioritize their presence at scenes where their physical presence is crucial.
“We want to slash the police bureau’s calls from about 200,000 calls a year down to about 50,000,” said Chief Scirotto regarding the department’s efforts to optimize resource allocation.
Moreover, officers will transition from working traditional eight-hour shifts to four 10-hour shifts per week, allowing them to enjoy three consecutive days off.
Chief Scirotto explained that this change is intended to enhance officer wellness by providing them with more time for personal pursuits and family obligations.
“An additional day away from work each week to focus on family, friends, or outside pursuits is key to creating a healthy workforce and contributes to the Bureau’s goal of not only recruiting new officers but retaining them for the long haul,” said Chief Scirotto.
Councilman Anthony Coghill, however, expressed concern about the impact of these changes on public expectations, particularly regarding response times to incidents like harassment.
“When it comes to harassment and things of this nature, you better have a police officer there. That’s what the public expects. That’s what I expect out of our city,” he said.
The Pittsburgh Fraternal Order of Police president, Bob Swartzwelder, attributed these changes to the understaffing of the police department.
While acknowledging the need for operational adjustments, Swartzwelder cautioned against potential contract violations and called for close monitoring of the implementation of these policies.
“Only time will tell if the plan works or the chief will need to pivot and modify his plan quickly. The FOP will be watching carefully for any contract violations that develop, especially when non-emergency events come up, such as St. Patrick’s Day, parades, large concerts, July 4th, etc. In short, the FOP believes that the police department is seriously over-committed and under-resourced,” Swartzwelder stated.
In addition to these changes, the bureau announced the formation of a Violent Crime Division aimed at combating violent crime and gun violence.
With 740 officers currently in operation and 41 undergoing training, the bureau hopes to optimize its personnel deployment based on data-driven insights.
According to Chief Scirotto, allocating resources efficiently, particularly during night shifts where call volume is comparatively lower, is one of the department’s priorities.
Twenty-seven officers will cover the night-time hours from 3 to 7 a.m.
As the bureau continues to adapt to evolving public safety challenges, stakeholders will closely monitor the impact of these initiatives on policing outcomes and community satisfaction.
“We are confident in the decisions that we make, knowing they will impact this bureau and city in a much better way than we have in the past,” Chief Scirotto concluded.
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