Pittsburgh police make command staff promotions, changes

Promotions in the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police on Tuesday brought command staff changes in three zones as well as larger structural changes in the department.

“The future is being formed right in front of us,” police Chief Cameron McLay said.

The ceremony promoted six to sergeant, three to lieutenant and three to commander. McLay noted that in the past six months, the department has undergone more organizational growth and development than “at least the past 20 years.”

Lieutenants promoted to commander were Daniel Herrmann, Christopher Ragland and Jennifer Ford.

McLay announced the establishment of the Office of Professional Standards, headed by Assistant Chief Thomas Stangrecki.

The office will be responsible for bureau standards and conduct, and performance management.

Ford will become commander of the office, which will be the “primary nexus” between McLay's office and the Office of Municipal Investigations, he said.

The Special Events unit, which coordinates the planning of large special events and helps wrangle people for secondary details, will fall under the OPS.

Administrative duties have been consolidated under one civilian manager, John Warren, who reports directly to McLay. Administrative positions previously staffed by officers will be filled with additional civilian staff, which should put more police on the street.

McLay said his aim is for each officer to view himself or herself as a leader, and it is up to the newly promoted leadership “to help guide the organization through this sea of change.”

“This can be the proud department it so desperately wants to be,” he said.

Zone 4 Cmdr. Kathy Degler will become commander of Support Services, overseeing the Records, Municipal Court and Computer Operations unit. Herrmann will become commander of Zone 4, which includes Oakland, Squirrel Hill and Hazelwood.

Zone 6 Cmdr. Jason Lando, a former Zone 5 lieutenant, will move back to Zone 5 as commander with the retirement of Timothy O'Connor. Zone 5 includes Homewood, Lincoln-Lemington and the East End. Ragland will replace Lando at Zone 6 in the West End.

Mayor Bill Peduto said the promotions are part of his plan to transform the department, which included hiring McLay as chief in September. That transformation includes improving morale within the department

“This sends the signal to every officer that there is a place for you if you want the responsibility,” he said. “This department has every opportunity to be a model of municipal policing.”

Promoted to sergeant were Officers James Glick, Colleen Bristow, Duane Schick and Caytlin Wood, and Detectives Matthew Turko and Richard Ford. Promoted to lieutenant were Sgts. William Blair, Kevin Wilson and Shirley Epperson.

Megan Guza is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8519 or mguza@tribweb.com