Pittsburgh city employee robbed at gunpoint Downtown, prompting leaders to take action

PITTSBURGH — A City of Pittsburgh employee robbed at gunpoint in the middle of the day is the latest incident of violence to hit Downtown.

Channel 11 Chief Investigator Rick Earle learned the employee, who works in the Controller’s office, was robbed at gunpoint while returning a city-owned vehicle to a parking lot on Second Avenue on June 28.

This incident prompted the city to take new action to address a recent uptick in Downtown crime, Pittsburgh police plan to begin high visibility patrols in the area.

>>> Pittsburgh police increasing presence in Central Business District after uptick in crime

The patrols include driving a police car with the overhead red and blue solid lights on to show a presence during the nighttime hours.

According to a letter sent by Controller Rachael Heisler to Mayor Ed Gainey, the employee was returning his city vehicle to the parking lot when a man came out of nowhere, pulled a gun on him and took off with cash. Police say the robber took a gold chain and a debit card.

Heisler said the employee then drove to the Zone 3 police station in Allentown, but no one was there. She said he used the call box and waited about an hour, but no officers responded.

Police called him later that night and took a report by phone.

Earle spoke with people Downtown about the robbery.

“That’s terrible...people should be able to go anywhere in Pittsburgh to feel safe. It’s terrible...Pittsburgh has just got terrible all of the sudden,” said one man.

Heisler wrote in her letter “Our highest priority in government is keeping people safe... rising street violence is posing a serious threat to city employees who work downtown.”

She also added her support to adequately fund the police to keep employees and residents safe.

Over the last several months, at least four people, some of them elderly, have been randomly attacked Downtown.

In light of these assaults and the recent robbery, Pittsburgh police announced plans to launch a new high-visibility police patrol initiative to create a safer environment downtown around the clock.

But, with nearly 27 officers retiring just this month and 18 resignations so far this year, the Police Bureau continues to struggle with manpower — 145 officers have left during the past 18 months.

The new academy classes have done little to offset that huge number of resignations and retirements.

Police Union leaders said with officers on various types of leave, manpower is now under 700.

And because of this decline, sources said the city is also considering asking Allegheny County police to return to Downtown to help with patrols like they did last year.

“They need to bring the county back down because these police need a lot of help, a lot of help. We ain’t got a lot of help,” said one resident.

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