Pittsburgh Police Chief


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.

Chiefs

Longest Tenure

  • ' – James W. Slusser
  • 13 years, 5 months – Harvey J. Scott
  • ' – Robert J. Coll
  • ' – Robert McNeilly
  • 9 years – Thomas A. McQuaide
  • 7 years – Peter Paul Walsh
  • 7 years – Roger O'Mara
  • ' – Nathan Harper
  • ' - Scott Schubert
  • 5 years, 61 days – AH Leslie
  • ' – Robert E. Colville
  • ' – Earl Buford
  • 3 years, 6 months – Franklin T. McQuaide
  • ' – Ralph Pampena

    Public Safety Directors

Pittsburgh was required by an 1887 state law to have a Public Safety Director over all emergency responders.
  • Lee C. Schmidt- Current
  • Wendell Hissrich - January 11, 2016 - January 2022
  • Steven Bucar - July 29, 2014 - September 2015
  • Michael Huss -January 24, 2007 -July 29, 2014
  • Robert Kennedy Jan. 2003 -2005
  • Sal Sirabella 1994-2003Jan. 2003
  • Kathy Kraus 1995-2005?
  • Lou DiNardo April 27, 1992 -1995
  • Glenn Cannon October 7, 1986- July 1992 -
  • John J. Norton July 3, 1985 -October 7, 1986
  • John H. Bingler April 1970- Princeton Engineering, Pitt Law, US Justice Dept Civil Rights Division 1965-1967, Frogman, born 1939.
  • James Cortese June 11, 1969 – 1970? chief of the Bureau of Building Inspection in mid-1960s born 1932.
  • David W. Craig March 16, 1967-January 1967? former City Solicitor
  • James Dillon -March 16, 1967 Former FBI Agent and attorney.
  • Louis Rosenberg 1957?-1961? was city council, after a federal judge Born 1898
  • David Olbum January 1, 1955- was city council, after a common pleas judge board member of County Sanitary Authority 1946-1955, and County Elections supervisor 1928 Pitt Law Grad previously born 1907
  • George E.A. Fairley 1943 1936-Jan. 1 1955 born 1877 Colonel World War I vet, superintendent for CMU from 1920-1936 Colonel
  • Thomas A. Dunn - January 1935 - Aug 7 1936 Chamber of Commerce President 1920-1931, candidate for Mayor 1929. Served on Prison Board. Died Aug 10 1936 fired on July 15, 1936.
  • Marshall Bell September 1934?-January 1935
  • Ralph E. Smith Jan 22, 1934 Born Ellicottville New York 1868 moved to Pittsburgh 1902 March 1934 Office at 215 City-County, Police Chiefs office 205 City-County.
  • James M. Clark July 1926 April 1933
  • Prichard 1920
  • Charles S. Hubbard October 1914 October 1915 1918
  • John H. Dalley May 25, 1913 October 1913
  • John M. Morin 1912 -January 28, 1913
  • Edward G. Lang 1908
  • Harry Moore late March 1903 April 1904
  • Frank Ridgeway 1906-07
  • A.H. Leslie November 26, 1901 -1902
  • J.O. Brown 1887-1889 July 17, 1899 & 1892 :

    Police Commissioners

  • William J. Kane 1920