After a 30-year career with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Cmdr. Rashall Brackney-Wheelock is stepping down to take on a position as chief of the George Washington University police department.
The news came in a press announcement released by the university the same day she posted photos from her recent wedding to Virginia native Stefan Wheelock.
“I am honored to be selected to lead G.W.’s police force,” she said in the statement. “I look forward to fostering positive police-community relations on campus to mitigate crime and enhance community wellness.”
Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay, who did not speak with Brackney-Wheelock about her departure until she returned from vacation May 18, said the G.W. force will be in good hands.
“George Washington University has made an excellent selection in naming Commander Brackney its chief of police,” he said. “She is highly qualified and is committed to excellence.”
Over the course of her career with the bureau, Brackney-Wheelock, 52, has served in, and/or managed nearly every area of police work including traffic, river rescue, hostage negotiations, SWAT, mounted patrol and the bomb squad. Early on, she even devised lesson plans for veteran officer continuing education and new officer training.
Since attaining the rank of commander 15 years ago, Brackney-Wheelock has managed the Zone 5 station in East Liberty, the Zone 3 South Side station and the Zone 1 station on the North Side. In December, she was named commander of the major crimes division.
George Washington Senior Associate Vice President for Safety and Security Darrell Darnell welcomed Brackney-Wheelock as the new chief.
“Commander Brackney has a proven track record of implementing community-driven policing programs, which have reduced crime and improved relationships within the city she has committed to protect,” he said. “Her exceptional leadership skills, knowledge of training and development and commitment to keeping her community safe will be an asset in her new role as our police chief.”
As the New Pittsburgh Courier reported in April, Brackney-Wheelock was slated to supervise the Pittsburgh rollout of alternative sentencing program for minor offenders patterned on the Seattle’s LEAD initiative.
How that program will be handled is unclear, although Public Safety Department Information Officer Sonya Toler indicated it would be the responsibility of whoever replaces Brackney as major crimes commander.
“Her position will be filled in the same manner that brought her to major crimes—there was a vacancy, the opening will be posted, those interested will apply, interviews will be completed, and Chief McLay will make a decision,” she said. “Who ever is promoted to be commander of major crimes will assume all of the duties of the major crimes commander.”
With Brackney-Wheelock’s departure, only two command-level African American officers remain in the bureau: Assistant Chief Maurita Bryant and Zone 2 Cmdr. Eric Holmes, who is also on temporary assignment serving as a special executive director to McLay.
(Send comments to cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com.)
About Post Author
