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Pittsburgh Police Chief

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The Pittsburgh Police Chief is an American law enforcement official who serves as the head of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, appointed by the Mayor of Pittsburgh. The Chief is a sworn law enforcement officer, and was historically referred to as the Police Superintendent as well as Chief, both titles having the same authority and meaning.

Pittsburgh Police Chief
Flag of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
since March 4, 2025
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
AppointerMayor of Pittsburgh

Chiefs

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No.ChiefAppointed byStartEndDurationNotes
Samuel Morrison 1794 [1]
John B. Gray 1815 1826 (p68) [2] Page 53
1 Matthew J. Green McCarthy 1868 1869 1 year [3]
2 Robert Hague Brush 1869 1872 3 years
3 John Irwin Blackmore 1872 1875 3 years
4 James McCandless McCarthy 1875 1876 1 year
5 W. M. Hartzell McCarthy 1876 1877 1 year
6 Philip Demmel McCarthy 1877 1878 1 year
7 Robert Hague Liddell 1878 1879 1 year
8 J. P. Heisel Lyon 1881 1883 2 years
9 G. L. Braun or L. G. Brown Fulton 1884 1884 1 year
10 T. A. Blackmore Fulton 1885 1886 1 year Was a "viewer" clerk in 1892.[4]
11 Nathan S. Brokaw Fulton 1887 1887 1 year
12 Roger O'Mara McCallin 1889 (Feb 23-Mar 10) 1896 (March 6) 6 years 362 days aug. 1892,[5] June 24, 1894 was arrested with Public Safety Dir.[6] makes 2,400/year
13 A. H. Leslie Ford 1896 (August 1) 1901 (October 1) 5 years 61 days Jul 1 1899 [7] Jul 8 1901 or before [8]
14 Soloman Coulson Diehl 1900 [7] was asst. super jul 1899;
15 A. H. Leslie Ford 1896 (August 1) 1901 (October 1) Jul 1 1899 [7] Jul 8 1901 or before [8]
16 Gamble Weir mayor 1901?
17 Roger O'Mara Diehl 1901 (Jan 14) 1901 (Sep 10) 240 days
18 John McAleese mayor by Feb. 3 1902 [9] Previously warden of the Allegheny county jail; in 1911 lived in Fay, Lawrence Co.[10]
19 John P. McTighe Brown March 5, 1903 was under consideration [11] [12][13] hats, 400 officers
20 Bernard McStay Hays early 1904 1904 (April 30)[14]
21 Alexander W. "Buck" Wallace Hays 1904 (April 30) [14] June 1906 [15] [16][17] ran for alderman 1908 [18] big bio,[19] ran a saloon,[15] lived with sister & denied pay cause "out of towner",[20] brother died aug. 1904
22 Thomas A. McQuaide Guthrie 1906 1914 [21] [22] joined 1886 chief of detectives 1903, chief 1906-? 3 mayors [23][24]
23 Noble Matthews Armstrong 1914 1918 [21]
24 Robert J. Alderdice Babcock 1918 [21] 1921 [21] [25][26]

Jan 1919

25 Davis Babcock 1919 (September 28) 1921?
26Thomas F. CarrollBabcock1921 (June 11?)1921 (August 17?)[27][28]
27John C. CalhounMagee1922 (April 13)1922 (September 5)[29]
28Edward N. JonesMagee1923 (June 17)1923 (November)[30]
29Edward J. BrophyMagee1923 (November 18)1926 (Spring)[31]
30Peter Paul WalshKline1926 (Spring)1933 (April 15)[32][33][34][35][36]
31Franklin T. McQuaideHerron1933 (April 15)1934 (January)
32Ben R. MarshallMcNair1934 (January)1934 (September)[37] Joined 1909 [38][39]
33Jacob F. Dorsey*McNair1934 (September)1936 (Summer)
34Franklin T. McQuaideScully1936 (Summer)1939 (March 17)[40]
35Harvey J. ScottScully1939 (March 17)1952 (August 11)[41]
36Henry Pieper*Lawrence1952 (August 11)1952 (August 13)[41][42]
37James W. SlusserLawrence1952 (August 13)1970 (January 5)[42][43][44][45]
38Stephen A. JoyceFlaherty1970 (January 5)1971 (February 10)[46]
39Robert E. ColvilleFlaherty1971 (February 10)1975 (March 1)[47]
40Robert J. CollFlaherty1975 (March 1)1986 (April 4)[48]
41William Ward*Caliguiri1986 (April 4)1986 (April 21)[49]
42William "Mugsy" MooreCaliguiri1986 (April 21)1987 (May 11)[50][51]
43Donald Aubrecht*Caliguiri1987 (May 11)1987 (May 22)[51]
44Ralph PampenaCaliguiri1987 (May 22)1990 (May 17)[52]
45Mayer DeRoyMasloff1990 (May 17)1992 (June 15)[53][54]
46Earl BufordMasloff1992 (June 15)1995 (December 29)[54][55]
47William E. Bochter*Murphy1995 (December 29)1996 (April 2)[56]
48Robert McNeillyMurphy1996 (April 2)2006 (January 2)[57][58]
49Dom CostaO'Connor2006 (January 2)2006 (September 28)[59]
50Earl Woodyard, Jr.*Ravenstahl2006 (September 29)2006 (October 31)
51Nathan HarperRavenstahl2006 (October 31)2013 (February 20)[60]
52Regina McDonald*Ravenstahl2013 (February 20)2014 (September 15)[61]
53Cameron McLayPeduto2014 (September 15)2016 (November 8)[62]
54Scott SchubertPeduto2016 (November 8)2022 (July 1)[63]
55Tom Stangrecki*Gainey2022 (July 2)2023 (July 6)[64]
56Larry ScirottoGainey2023 (July 7)2024 (November 1)[65]
57Christopher Ragland*Gainey2024 (November 1)2025 (March 4)[65][66]
58Martin DevineGainey2025 (March 4)2026 (Jan. 8)[65][67]
59Jason LandoO'Connor2026 (Jan. 8)Present[68]

Longest Tenure

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  • 17 years, 145 days – James W. Slusser (1952–1970)
  • 13 years, 5 months – Harvey J. Scott (1939–1952)
  • 11 years, 34 days – Robert J. Coll (1975–1986)
  • 9 years, 275 days – Robert McNeilly (1996–2006)
  • 9 years – Thomas A. McQuaide (1906–1914)
  • 7 years – Peter Paul Walsh (1926–1933)
  • 7 years – Roger O'Mara (1889–1896)
  • 6 years, 112 days – Nathan Harper (2006–2013)
  • 5 years, 235 days - Scott Schubert (2016-2022)
  • 5 years, 61 days – AH Leslie
  • 4 years, 19 days – Robert E. Colville (1971–1975)
  • 3 years, 197 days – Earl Buford (1992–1995)
  • 3 years, 6 months – Franklin T. McQuaide (1933, 1936–1939)
  • 2 years, 360 days – Ralph Pampena (1987–1990)

Public Safety Directors

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Pittsburgh was required by an 1887 state law to have a Public Safety Director over all emergency responders.[69]

Police Commissioners

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See also

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References

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  1. ↑ 2014 Statistical Report (PDF) (Report). Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. January 1, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Our police. A history of the Pittsburgh police force, under the town and city" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2022.
  3. ↑ Altenburger, Christine (January 1966). "The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police: Some Historical Highlights". Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine. 49 (1). Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025 – via Pennsylvania State University.
  4. ↑ Humanities, National Endowment for the (April 8, 1892). "Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, April 08, 1892, Image 6". p. 6 – via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
  5. ↑ "The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, June 23, 1894, THIRD EDITION, Image 3 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress". Chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, April 08, 1892, Page 6, Image 6 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress". Chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  8. 1 2 "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  9. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  10. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  11. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  12. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  13. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  14. 1 2 "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  15. 1 2 "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  16. ↑ Crandall, William S. (1905). "Municipal News - Google Books". Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  18. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  19. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  20. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  21. 1 2 3 4 "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  22. ↑ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  23. ↑ "The Gazette Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  24. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  25. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  26. ↑ "The Gazette Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  27. ↑ "POLICE AFTER GAMBLERS.; Pittsburgh Chief Sends Large Force to Forbes Field Game. - The New York Times". The New York Times. June 11, 1921. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Providence News - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  29. ↑ "The Evening Independent - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  30. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  31. ↑ "PITTSBURGH POLICE WAR ON GAMBLERS; Detectives Invade Forbes Field on Complaint That Thousands Were Bring Bet on Giant Series. - The New York Times". The New York Times. August 14, 1925. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  32. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  33. ↑ "Eyewitness 1927: Coolidge keeps his cool". Post-gazette.com. December 13, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  34. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  35. ↑ "Eyewitness 1927: Big bang hammers North Side hard". Post-gazette.com. November 13, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  36. ↑ "PITTSBURGH CHIEF ADMITS HE DIRECTED POLICE TO AID PEPPER; Walsh Tells Senators That He Ordered Detectives "to Bring In a Majority." KEEPS INQUIRERS LAUGHING Insists That He Did Not "Line Up" the Force, Despite Letter to His Subordinates. WHEELER IN CONFERENCE Secret Meeting Precedes the Open Session, the Entire Committee Taking Part. ADMITS HE DIRECTED POLICE TO AID PEPPER - The New York Times". The New York Times. June 25, 1926. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  37. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  38. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  39. ↑ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  40. ↑ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  41. 1 2 "Greensburg Daily Tribune - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  42. 1 2 "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  43. ↑ "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  44. ↑ "Observer-Reporter - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  45. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  46. ↑ "Observer-Reporter - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  47. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  48. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  49. ↑ "The Vindicator - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  50. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  51. 1 2 "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  52. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  53. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  54. 1 2 "Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  55. ↑ "Post-Gazette.com". nl.newsbank.com.
  56. ↑ "Post-Gazette.com". nl.newsbank.com.
  57. ↑ "The mayoral transition: Police chief out". old.post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
  58. ↑ "Mayor, residents praise police chief nominee as innovator, communicator". old.post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
  59. ↑ "How O'Connor pal rose and fell so fast". old.post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
  60. ↑ "Council approves Harper as city police chief". old.post-gazette.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023.
  61. ↑ "Harper asked to resign as Pittsburgh police chief - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  62. ↑ "Ex-Wisconsin police captain Cameron McLay named new Pittsburgh police chief". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  63. ↑ "Pittsburgh police chief Cameron McLay stepping down". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  64. ↑ "Mayor Gainey names interim police chief following Schubert's retirement announcement - CBS Pittsburgh". CBS News. May 27, 2022.
  65. 1 2 3 "Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto retiring amid scrutiny over NCAA basketball referee job". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  66. ↑ "Leadership vacuum: Ragland withdraws as Pittsburgh police chief candidate, plans to retire | TribLIVE.com". Archived from the original on April 7, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  67. ↑ "Leadership vacuum: Ragland withdraws as Pittsburgh police chief candidate, plans to retire | TribLIVE.com". Archived from the original on April 7, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  68. ↑ "O'Connor fills top roles, installs Jason Lando as acting Pittsburgh police chief". triblive.com. January 8, 2026. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  69. ↑ "Genealogy.com: Genforum & Family History Search". Genealogy.com. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  70. ↑ Northwestern Historical Association (Madison, Wis ) (March 17, 1904). "Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; personal and genealogical". Madison, Wis., Northwestern Historical Association – via Internet Archive.
  71. ↑ "Genealogy.com: Genforum & Family History Search". Genealogy.com. Retrieved March 17, 2020.1
  72. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
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