PITTSBURGH, PA – Today’s promotion ceremony ushers in a change in the organization structure of the Bureau of Police. Following is a statement from Police Chief Cameron McLay:
Since my arrival, I have promised three very important things: the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police will utilize data-driven/community-oriented policing strategies to reduce crime, fear and disorder; that I will bridge the gaps between the Police Bureau and our communities of color; and we will improve the integrity of our accountabilities systems, striving for the highest standards of ethical conduct and service delivery.
During the past five months, countless changes and adjustments have been going on in the background as I and my staff have been active in the communities, rebuilding lines of communication and, hopefully, bridges of trust.
We have been working to improve the way our Investigations, Patrol Operations and Intelligence functions work together to improve violent crime investigations, attempting to be more proactive to identify those most at risk from future, retaliatory violence in efforts to divert them from violence or hold them accountable for illegal activities. We have audited our systems and processes with the goal of improving our data analysis capacity to improve the effectiveness of our enforcement efforts.
It is now time to make further improvements and to institutionalize those processes. We are implementing the following structural and assignment changes that will make the necessary improvements part of our day-to-day work within the Police Bureau. Recent retirements have created the opportunity to make additional promotions, and provided me the chance to put some highly talented people into key roles to continue to leverage positive change.
In order to improve the integrity of our accountability systems, I have created an Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Headed by Assistant Chief Thomas Stangrecki, the OPS is responsible for ensuring the Police Bureau holds itself accountable for the highest standards of performance and ethical conduct, and will oversee all aspects of performance management. This includes policy development and accreditation, training, accountability and compliance auditing, and internal investigations. This office will be my primary nexus between the Office of Municipal Investigations, and will help me make certain the promoted leaders of the Police Bureau are to ensure all aspects of our operations reflect the highest standards of ethical conduct
The OPS will be staffed with a commander, lieutenant of Training, a sergeant of Professional Standards, and our existing Policy & Accreditation staff. The Special Events Unit, which coordinates the planning, scheduling and implementation of larger special events, will also be under this area of command.
Our Administrative functions have long been understaffed and overwhelmed. These functions have been consolidated under Civilian Manager John Warren, who will report directly to the Chief of Police. We will be seeking to hire and train additional civilian support personnel, freeing up sworn officers to do the important work they were hired to perform.
There is presently a vacancy in the position of commander of Support Services, who oversees our Records, Municipal Court and Computer Operations unit. In order to provide the leadership to these important function areas, I have asked Cmdr. Kathy Degler to leverage her experience in administrative positions to assist.
Newly promoted Cmdr. Daniel Herrmann will be assigned to Zone 4 to replace Cmdr. Degler.
Our Operations Section has seen the retirement of Cmdr. Timothy O’Connor, who is leaving us to accept a role as the Chief of Police for Bethel Park. He has served us well, and I wish him all the best. Most recently assigned to Zone 6, I have reassigned Cmdr. Jason Lando to Zone 5, tasking him with helping lead our efforts to build community and reduce violence in the communities plagued by weapon violence. Cmdr. Lando worked as a lieutenant in Zone 5, and is well familiar with the challenges facing our communities and our officers.
Newly promoted Cmdr. Christopher Ragland will replace Cmdr. Lando at Zone 6. Ragland is presently a lieutenant in Zone.
The full list of promotions are as follows:
Lt. Daniel Herrmann – from Major Crimes to Cmdr. of Zone 4
Lt. Jennifer Ford – from Training Academy to Cmdr. OPS
Lt. Christopher Ragland – from Zone 6/SDD to Cmdr. of Zone 6/SDD
Sgt. William Blair from Zone 3 to Lt. at Zone 1
Sgt. Kevin Wilson – from Zone 3 to Lt. pending future orders
Sgt. Shirley Epperson – from Narcotics/Vice to Lt. pending future orders
PO Caytlin Wood – from Zone 5 to Sgt. at Zone 6
Det. Matthew Turko – from Major Crimes to Sgt. Zone 2
PO Duane Schick – from Zone 4 to Sgt. at Zone 3
Det. Richard Ford – from Major Crimes to Sgt. pending future order
PO Collen Bristow – from Zone 6 to Sgt. pending future order
PO James Glick from Zone 6 to Sgt. pending future order
Since my arrival, I have promised three very important things: the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police will utilize data-driven/community-oriented policing strategies to reduce crime, fear and disorder; that I will bridge the gaps between the Police Bureau and our communities of color; and we will improve the integrity of our accountabilities systems, striving for the highest standards of ethical conduct and service delivery.
During the past five months, countless changes and adjustments have been going on in the background as I and my staff have been active in the communities, rebuilding lines of communication and, hopefully, bridges of trust.
We have been working to improve the way our Investigations, Patrol Operations and Intelligence functions work together to improve violent crime investigations, attempting to be more proactive to identify those most at risk from future, retaliatory violence in efforts to divert them from violence or hold them accountable for illegal activities. We have audited our systems and processes with the goal of improving our data analysis capacity to improve the effectiveness of our enforcement efforts.
It is now time to make further improvements and to institutionalize those processes. We are implementing the following structural and assignment changes that will make the necessary improvements part of our day-to-day work within the Police Bureau. Recent retirements have created the opportunity to make additional promotions, and provided me the chance to put some highly talented people into key roles to continue to leverage positive change.
In order to improve the integrity of our accountability systems, I have created an Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Headed by Assistant Chief Thomas Stangrecki, the OPS is responsible for ensuring the Police Bureau holds itself accountable for the highest standards of performance and ethical conduct, and will oversee all aspects of performance management. This includes policy development and accreditation, training, accountability and compliance auditing, and internal investigations. This office will be my primary nexus between the Office of Municipal Investigations, and will help me make certain the promoted leaders of the Police Bureau are to ensure all aspects of our operations reflect the highest standards of ethical conduct
The OPS will be staffed with a commander, lieutenant of Training, a sergeant of Professional Standards, and our existing Policy & Accreditation staff. The Special Events Unit, which coordinates the planning, scheduling and implementation of larger special events, will also be under this area of command.
Our Administrative functions have long been understaffed and overwhelmed. These functions have been consolidated under Civilian Manager John Warren, who will report directly to the Chief of Police. We will be seeking to hire and train additional civilian support personnel, freeing up sworn officers to do the important work they were hired to perform.
There is presently a vacancy in the position of commander of Support Services, who oversees our Records, Municipal Court and Computer Operations unit. In order to provide the leadership to these important function areas, I have asked Cmdr. Kathy Degler to leverage her experience in administrative positions to assist.
Newly promoted Cmdr. Daniel Herrmann will be assigned to Zone 4 to replace Cmdr. Degler.
Our Operations Section has seen the retirement of Cmdr. Timothy O’Connor, who is leaving us to accept a role as the Chief of Police for Bethel Park. He has served us well, and I wish him all the best. Most recently assigned to Zone 6, I have reassigned Cmdr. Jason Lando to Zone 5, tasking him with helping lead our efforts to build community and reduce violence in the communities plagued by weapon violence. Cmdr. Lando worked as a lieutenant in Zone 5, and is well familiar with the challenges facing our communities and our officers.
Newly promoted Cmdr. Christopher Ragland will replace Cmdr. Lando at Zone 6. Ragland is presently a lieutenant in Zone.
The full list of promotions are as follows:
Lt. Daniel Herrmann – from Major Crimes to Cmdr. of Zone 4
Lt. Jennifer Ford – from Training Academy to Cmdr. OPS
Lt. Christopher Ragland – from Zone 6/SDD to Cmdr. of Zone 6/SDD
Sgt. William Blair from Zone 3 to Lt. at Zone 1
Sgt. Kevin Wilson – from Zone 3 to Lt. pending future orders
Sgt. Shirley Epperson – from Narcotics/Vice to Lt. pending future orders
PO Caytlin Wood – from Zone 5 to Sgt. at Zone 6
Det. Matthew Turko – from Major Crimes to Sgt. Zone 2
PO Duane Schick – from Zone 4 to Sgt. at Zone 3
Det. Richard Ford – from Major Crimes to Sgt. pending future order
PO Collen Bristow – from Zone 6 to Sgt. pending future order
PO James Glick from Zone 6 to Sgt. pending future order
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