Pittsburgh Police 'to Act Like an Accordion' During Election Week

Pittsburgh police will remain on their normal 10-hour shifts amid the last-minute candidate visits and throughout the election and its aftermath this week, though all days-off have been canceled, Acting Chief Chris Ragland said Monday morning.

Numerous city officers are detailed 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 Centre Avenue from Crawford to Washington Place will be shut down entirely from around 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

"The plan has been created to act like an accordion," Chief Ragland said. "Should we need to expand or collapse our police presence throughout the week, we have the flexibility to do so. The schedule allows for multiple contingencies.

"We are prepared but hopeful that these precautionary measures are not needed," he said.

That won't include patrolling polling places, as it's illegal for uniformed officers to be within 100 feet of a polling location unless it's to respond to a specific incident. The chief said city officers will respond to reports of criminal acts within the city but that it otherwise falls to sheriff's deputies.

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

He said the deputies will respond to polling places as necessary, "including to serve as backup to any local police departments that are responding to any altercations."

"If there is any sort of dispute at a polling place, the judge of election or their designee will call the department of elections to see if the judge overseeing election issues must get involved," Mr. Manko said.

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

"We understand that people may wish 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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