Pittsburgh police are 'acting like an accordion' during election week

Pittsburgh police will continue to work their normal 10-hour shifts during candidates’ last-minute visits and during this week’s election and aftermath, although all days off have been canceled, acting Chief Chris Ragland said Monday morning.

Numerous city officials have been dispatched to assist U.S. Secret Service agents in securing Downtown Pittsburgh ahead of former President Donald Trump’s rally at PPG Paints Arena. Several Pittsburgh officers are also assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade from Pittsburgh International Airport to the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale.

The chief said there will be rolling closures along both motorcade routes, and Center Avenue from Crawford to Washington Place will be completely closed from approximately 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“The plan was made to act like an accordion,” Chief Ragland said. “Should we need to increase or decrease our police presence during the week, we have the flexibility to do so. The schedule takes several contingencies into account.

“We are prepared, but hope these precautions are not necessary,” he said.

That doesn’t include patrolling polling places, because it’s illegal for uniformed officers to be within 100 feet of a polling place unless it’s in response to a specific incident. The chief said city officials will respond to reports of criminal activity in the city, but otherwise it is up to sheriff’s deputies.

Sixteen deputies were assigned to an election detail Tuesday, said Mike Manko, a spokesman for Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus. The province will be divided into four zones and four officers will be assigned to each zone.

He said deputies will respond to polling places as needed, “including to serve as a backup for local law enforcement responding to any disturbances.”

“If a dispute arises at a polling place, the election judge or his designee will call the elections department to see if the judge overseeing election matters should be involved,” Mr. Manko said.

Chief Ragland said city officials will also be prepared for any protests in the aftermath of the election.

“We understand that people may want to come and exercise their First Amendment rights,” he said. “We welcome that, we support that and we will protect that.”

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