25-year FBI veteran named Pittsburgh's public safety director
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto once again has tapped an FBI agent with local connections to lead the city's public safety department.
Peduto on Wednesday named Wendell Hissrich, 53, a Forest Hills native and former city paramedic, as public safety director. Hissrich has 25 years of service with the FBI, most recently heading its Weapons of Mass Destruction Operations Response Unit in Washington.
Hissrich, who was in town visiting his parents, said he is well acquainted with city public safety officials through former city employment, as well as having worked with the FBI's Pittsburgh office to cover the Major League Baseball All-Star Game at PNC Park in 2006 and the G-20 summit in 2009.
He said he plans to be very visible in the city and will work to prevent public safety incidents through community outreach and strengthening ties among the city's four public safety bureaus.
“It's never going to be perfect, but hopefully we can make the lives of the men and women of the public safety bureaus a little easier,” he said.
He will oversee the Office of Emergency Management; the bureaus of police, fire and animal control; and Emergency Medical Services at an annual salary of $112,500.
Hissrich lauded the mayor and his staff for an opportunity to land what he called a “dream job.” He said he is using up vacation time and officially will retire from the FBI on Jan. 4. He will start in Pittsburgh on Jan. 11 and plans to live in Squirrel Hill. His appointment is subject to City Council approval.
Hissrich will replace former Public Safety Director Stephen A. Bucar, a Brownsville native and former FBI agent, who left the city in September to become deputy commissioner of staff with the Pennsylvania State Police.
Upon Hissrich's arrival, acting Director Mike Huss will return to his role as assistant director at an annual salary of $101,898.
Peduto said Pittsburgh is lucky to have Hissrich.
“Wendell Hissrich brings back to Pittsburgh not only a close knowledge of our city, but experience working with agencies across the country to keep our nation safe,” Peduto wrote in a statement.
Hissrich grew up in Forest Hills and is a life member of the borough's volunteer fire department. He said he responds to fire calls when visiting his parents, who live in the community.
“We're glad to have him back in Pittsburgh,” said Hissrich's mother, Frances. “He's a Pittsburgh boy, and he's been away for awhile. It's like a homecoming.”
Rick Colella, president of the Forest Hills fire department, said Hissrich shares the experience he gained through FBI training with members of the fire company.
“I know he's always maintained his skills as a firefighter, and I think he'll do good for the city,” Colella said. “He's a great guy and very knowledgeable.”
Hissrich said he started volunteering with an ambulance service while attending St. Thomas District High School in Braddock, and he gained certification as a paramedic through a Community College of Allegheny County program after graduation.
He is a 1984 graduate of Duquesne University with a bachelor's degree in business management. He was a Pittsburgh paramedic and crew chief from 1985 to 1990 before landing a job with the FBI.
As an agent, he worked for seven years with law enforcement in Toledo, Ohio, on a violent crimes fugitive task force. He worked as a supervising agent in the FBI's Counterterrorism Division and with a Hazardous Materials Response Unit.
Jeff Tremel, a city paramedic and president of Local 1 of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics union, said he doesn't know Hissrich, but he has a good reputation among paramedics.
“He's somebody who knows Pittsburgh EMS and knows the history of Pittsburgh EMS,” Tremel said. “That's reassuring.”
Peduto selected Hissrich from about a dozen candidates who responded to job ads, according to spokesman Tim McNulty. He said Peduto led interviews of finalists selected from the group.
Staff writer Megan Guza contributed. Bob Bauder is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.
