The streets of Pittsburgh's Central Business District are about to see an influx of blue and red lights but don't expect the usual sirens. Pittsburgh Police have unveiled a new High-Visibility Police Patrol initiative designed to temper the rising tide of crime and unruliness in the Downtown area. This tactical shift entails keeping patrol vehicles in constant sight, their red and blue lights continuously glowing in what's dubbed "cruise mode." The concept, already in play in other cities across the nation, is simple: A visible police presence can both deter crime and make officers more accessible in cases of emergency, as per the City of Pittsburgh's official public safety blotter.
Apart from DPSC supervisors and officers, reinforcement comes with an interdisciplinary touch. Units such as K-9, Cycle, and even those concerned with Violence Prevention will patrol the sector, tackling location-specific issues identified by their police supervisors. This expanded patrol roster is less a show of force and more a tailored response to the singular needs of these bustling downtown arteries.
Amidst the Downtown bustle, a dedicated High-Visibility Patrol vehicle will become a nocturnal fixture. A dedicated High-Visibility Patrol vehicle will have a nightly presence patrolling the CBD. "This vehicle will operate with its overhead red and blue lights activated at all times", according to Pittsburgh's official public safety blotter.
The man outlining this vision, Chief Larry Scirotto, couches the strategy in the language of community welfare. "The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is committed to ensuring the Central Business District – and all Pittsburgh neighborhoods – remain safe and welcoming for all”, he announced, as detailed by Pittsburgh's official public safety blotter.
