(The Center Square) – Pittsburgh’s recent decision to reroute early morning emergency calls comes one year after the mayor planned to triple police presence downtown.
The policy change, announced Feb. 22, means calls received between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. for crimes not in progress – including theft, harassment and criminal mischief – will reroute to the Telephone Reporting Unit.
The unit is staffed from 7 a.m. until 3 a.m. the following day, so incidents occurring in the four-hour window will be collected for an officer to follow up with during the morning shift.
The city will also install blue phones that connect directly to emergency services outside all six police zones and the Downtown Public Safety Center for use during those hours.
Cara Cruz, public information officer for the Department of Public Safety, told The Center Square policy change means 12 fewer officers will be on duty citywide.
“Pittsburgh Police do, and
Read more…
