Public Safety Prioritization: Increased Police Patrols Downtown

Written by Allison Frazer

Downtown is a lively, bustling place that attracts locals looking for entertainment or a nice meal. Lately, the draw of downtown has charmed some of Pittsburgh’s younger residents to stay after their afterschool programs let out, leading to an increase in tensions on Liberty Ave. 

Pittsburgh police have responded to this issue by increasing patrols on the 500 block of Liberty Avenue, in Triangle Park and Market Square from 6-9 P.M. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. These are locations where juveniles tend to congregate following their afterschool programs. 

Police Chief Larry Scirotto has called officers from other zones to help patrol downtown for three hours for these four days. Though they are adding extra coverage, residents from other zones need not be worried - those neighborhoods will not be left without proper coverage. 

The 500 block of Liberty Ave. has three smoke shops that often have young crowds hanging around. These locations are primary spots residents will notice increased police visibility to ensure the safety of all residents. 

Chief Scirotto reported that the increased patrols align with the end of afterschool programs. “It seems like [students] leave those programs right around 6:00 P.M.,” Scirotto said, “because it’s also about the same time we see that level of disorder.”

Residents have expressed concern over the growing number of juvenile groups downtown at night. One resident said, “I walk home and I see something going on, and I always get scared.” Other residents have stated that they choose to “walk the next street over” to avoid the groups on Liberty Ave. and are “all for” adding more patrols to the area.