Officials said the new approach will involve “collaboration efforts” of the city’s bureaus of Fire, Police and Emergency Medical Services, according to city public safety director Wendell Hissrich.
“Communications and coordination among Public Safety bureaus is a major priority as we work to develop a culture of planning and support that is based on best practices in our mission of protecting life, property, and the rights and safety of those who live, work, and visit the City of Pittsburgh,” Hissrich said in a statement.
Thousands of people supporting the Republican presidential campaign of Trump turned out for events at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown on April 13. Hundreds of protesters converged on the sites and marched between them, often confronting the Trump supporters.
More than two dozen police officers created a line to separate chanting protesters from those waiting in line to enter the convention center to hear Trump. Police officer Bob Swartzwelder said there were potentially dangerous situations that were not reported by the media coverage of the events.
Three people were arrested and four Pittsburgh police officers were treated for minor injuries during or following the convention center rally. The injuries primarily resulted from pepper spray. Police said that, throughout the evening, there were several instances in which pepper spray was dispersed at officers and citizens.
Immediately after the rallies, the president of Pittsburgh’s Fraternal Order of Police questioned why a command decision was made preventing officers from wearing riot gear during Trump’s appearances, exposing them to danger.
Swartzwelder said his officers were denied the protective gear — helmets, face shields and body padding — while Allegheny County police officers, who were also present, were fully equipped.
“We have the gear, it just wasn’t allowed to be worn,” Swartzwelder said at the time. “Some high-level person made a command decision that it wasn’t going to be worn. Uniforms, your equipment, your formations, those are all command decisions. And my officers are concerned about it.”
Hissrich said the new preparation and response plan will follow the National Incident Management System and National Response Framework, all in keeping with Homeland Security Presidential Policy directives.
City bureaus individually reviewed their plans then met to discuss ways to improve public safety services. Even before the Trump event, city officials said, the Bureau of Police had initiated training in crowd management and that effort is now complete and will be included in the city’s comprehensive strategy for dealing with public events and disasters.
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