The Pittsburgh Police is the biggest law enforcement group in Western Pennsylvania, and the third in the state. It’s no wonder with the historic crime that has been present throughout the city. As of now, there are about 1,000 sworn officers on the police force.
The rate of various crimes in Pittsburgh is well over the national average in many cases, including violence, theft, and assault. Since the 1910s, there has been criminal activity from one particular group that has dominated the city.
The Pittsburgh crime family
The Pittsburgh crime family, also known as the LaRocca’s has been around for over one hundred years. They came out of the prohibition era, the same time period as Al Capone. Their beginning acts were to illegally make and sell alcohol. Since this time, the crime family has been linked to gambling rings, drugs, and suspected murders.
The group is fairly transparent about their actions, to an extent. Their members are known, although since the 1990s their numbers have fallen drastically due to conviction and death. There are murders that members have been accused of, but denied.
The areas
There are different areas around Pittsburg that have higher levels of crime. No matter the area you live in, crime is possible. Even though there are areas that have had long histories of crime that are more prone to criminal activity. It doesn’t matter where you are, criminal activity can happen.
Many areas of Pittsburgh have above average home prices, even though they also have above average crime rates. The most dangerous area of the city prone to crime scenes is between Mcneilly Road and Sussex Avenue. The area is known for its unique characteristics. The neighborhoods are a unique mix of cultural groups.
Upper St. Clair is a part of the south most tip of Pittsburg. Although it may not be the most dangerous part of Pittsburg, it is no stranger to crime scenes. The Whiskey Rebellion in 1791 started out in Upper St. Clair. Although this wasn’t necessarily a crime scene, at the time it was illegal, and it caused a big mess. Which is basically the same thing as a crime scene right?
The police force
A large majority of the Pittsburg police force, over seventy percent, are male. They have the Pittsburg are divided into six zones. Each zone is required to have a certain number of officers present, based on the crime scenes that have been seen in the area. The first four zones require the highest number of officers while the last two zones are a bit safer. This is to ensure the rate of crime scenes diminishes.
A commander, who maintains the peace in their geographic area, leads each zone. Between the six zones, here is a breakdown of what law enforcement officers are present at all times:
- Thirteen police officers
- Three detectives
- One sergeant
- One lieutenant
This is simply an average across the six zones, but is a good representation of the steps taken to reduce crime in Pittsburgh.
Crime scenes are something you never want to come across. Through proper enforcement, and prevention, crime in Pittsburgh can be reduced. The areas that have become famous as crime scenes can now become known for something else.