PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are on pace to lose at least 100 officers for the second time in a row. And for the very first time in a long time, the department now has fewer than 700 officers.
Chief Investigator Rick Earle learned that the number, according to the police union, has now dropped to 693.
In addition to that number, there are 17 in the command staff.
Pittinger was critical of the move to disband the mounted unit.
“I think it’s terribly, terribly unfortunate. It’s disappointing. The unit was professional and a tremendous public relations asset,” said Pittinger.
City council voted to end the unit over financial concerns. Council said the unit costs the city a half million dollars a year.
Pittinger disputed that number and said it was closer to $100,000 and she believes it’s worth the small price tag.
Pittinger said that decision, along with the move to break up the motorcycle unit and assign the cycles to various stations around the city, is a cause for concern.
She said it’s not a good look for a city police department.
“Now, we have the equivalent of a small town police department and we still have big city problems,” said Pittinger.
Pittinger was also highly critical of moves by former Chief Larry Scirotto to eliminate a desk officer in the stations overnight, and installing call boxes and implementing the telephone reporting unit to handle certain calls.
Scirotto left to referee college basketball after serving as chief for only 17 months, and implementing a number of controversial changes.
Pittinger said residents deserve better.
“They have every right to expect to see an officer if they need one, and they think they need one, not going to a station and picking up an outside phone and calling 911. This is absurdity. It’s a hell of a way to run a railroad,” said Pittinger.
Pittinger also raised serious concerns about the continued declining number of officers.
So far this year, 95 officers have either retired or resigned.
Last year, 102 left.
The department has dropped to 693 officers.
“That’s unbelievable. We’ve had population loss, yes, and we’ve had a daytime loss of commuters, but we have not had a loss of risk to the citizens of the city who are paying the bill,” said Pittinger.
And while the mayor continues to tout a 45% drop in non-fatal shootings and murders, there’s been a recent rash of crimes downtown.
The mayor has repeatedly said downtown is safe.
During the past week, a homeless man followed a 93- year old woman from downtown to her house and allegedly raped her.
And there was aggravated assault at sandwich shop and another sandwich shop was robbed at gun point.
Pittinger said it’s a big concern.
“It’s rampant downtown. It truly is. It is not a safe place, and people know that, we know that, so don’t tell us it’s something it isn’t,” said Pittinger.
Earle also learned that 66 recruits are still working their way through the academy and that will help bolster the ranks next year.
But Earle said expect to see more officers leaving before the end of the year and even early next year.
The Bureau this year is on target to break 100.
Earle reached out to public safety for a comment on all of this, but has of this writing hasn’t heard back.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW