Pittsburgh City Council has unanimously approved the appointments of Jason Lando as police chief and Sheldon Williams as public safety director, marking a significant shift within Mayor Corey O’Connor’s administration. With their roles confirmed today, the duo, who had already been serving in an acting capacity since O’Connor’s recent entry into office, are transitioning into their positions with aspirations of reform and stronger community relations.
Jason Lando, a Squirrel Hill native with a robust background in Pittsburgh policing, faced tough scrutiny over prior allegations of harassment stemming from his tenure as police chief in Frederick, Maryland. As reported by WPXI, during a council meeting last week where nominees were questioned under oath, Lando addressed these allegations, which originated from accusations of sending harassing messages to a former subordinate. An investigation cleared him of any criminal violations, yet it linked him to an account involved in the incidents.
His counterpart, Sheldon Williams, has taken a more diverse path to his new role, beginning his career as a paramedic in Pittsburgh, and serving more than a decade as both a military member in the Army Reserves and Air Force National Guard and a Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officer. According to a TribLIVE interview, Williams is recognized for his time in the police SWAT team and bomb squad, a decade in pastoral work at Allegheny Center Alliance Church, and, most recently, as an educator in the University of Pittsburgh’s Emergency Medicine program.
The new appointments come alongside promises not collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to focus on improving officer recruitment and retention, building officer wellness programs, and fostering community trust in the police force, as revealed during last week's public interview.
