PITTSBURGH — 11 Investigates has learned that the City of Pittsburgh Zone 6 police station in the West End was left unlocked and unmanned after a wind storm knocked out power to the station last month.
Chief Investigator Rick Earle has uncovered what led to the problem and changes that are being made to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
It was the perfect storm.
The electricity that controls the door went out during the storm, and the generator wouldn’t kick on.
The battery backup failed as well.
And since the desk officer position was eliminated, no one was there and the door to the police station was unlocked.
A lieutenant who arrived at 6 a.m. found the front door to the police station in the West End unlocked.
And because the overnight desk officer at every station was eliminated due to manpower shortages, there was no one inside the station after 230 am.
It’s unclear when the power to the door failed but it happened sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Earle spoke with city councilman Anthony Coghill, who oversees public safety.
Earle: The building is open and no one is there, anybody off the street could have just walked in there.
Coghill: It’s irresponsible.
After the windstorm knocked out power to the station around 9 p.m., the generator sputtered but wouldn’t come on.
The front door is powered by electricity but there’s also a backup battery pack on the front door just in case the power goes out.
The rear door in the station automatically locks when the power goes out.
Sources tell Earle the front door was locked when an officer left the station at 2:30 a.m., but sometime after that the battery failed.
Three and half hours later, when the lieutenant arrived for the daylight shift, he found the front door unlocked and no officers in the building.
“I’m at a loss for words as far as the conditions of our buildings. We have backup generators that are failing. We have facilities, training facilities with no heat. We have a bank of elevators that are out (in the City-County building). We have a Municipal Courts building that is in deplorable condition,” said Coghill.
Coghill in that interview referring to a series of 11 Investigates exclusive reports on poor conditions at city-owned facilities, including a broken boiler at the police and fire training academy where there’s been no heat for more than three months now.
Fire and police instructors have set up space heaters throughout the building.
They’ve also resorted to wearing hats and coats inside the facility during the recent cold snap.
As for the Zone 6 police station in the West End, after it was found unlocked and unmanned, officers had to search the building from top to bottom to make sure no one got inside.
They also had to count all of the shotguns and ammunition.
Public safety released a statement to 11 Investigates.
“…the Zone 6 police station experienced a power outage just before 9 p.m. The building’s generator briefly activated but stopped working shortly afterward. Before leaving for the night, officers promptly notified their supervisor about the incident. To ensure continued security, a sergeant was stationed outside for the remainder of the night. After 2:30 a.m., the mechanism responsible for locking the front door also lost power due to the generator malfunction. The following morning, officers conducted a comprehensive search and inventory of the building. No items were taken and no individuals entered the property. Power to the facility has since been restored. We are actively working to repair the generator and have taken additional steps to ensure the safety and security of the facility moving forward.”
Coghill told Earle he realizes the department is facing a staffing crisis, but he believes the stations throughout the city should still be staffed around the clock 24/7.
“We used to have a person at our stations. There still should be as far as I’m concerned. Had there been somebody there they would have known, in case somebody just decided to walk in and loot the place which somebody could have done,” said Coghill.
Sources also tell Earle that commander Ray Rippole has now ordered at least one officer to remain at the station when the power goes out.
Coghill said he was pleased that the commander took quick and decisive action.
“Commander Rippole is a very good commander, and I’m glad to here him say that. He’s not afraid to take responsibility. I know that. He will go there himself if he has to,” said Coghill.
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