“There are no boundaries in public safety,” said Hissrich, 53, during his introduction by Mayor Bill Peduto Tuesday.
Hissrich said police, fire, EMS and animal control must be able to work together smoothly and seamlessly in the event of a disaster.
That cooperation needs also to include county, state and federal agencies, he said, and he plans to meet with representatives from those organizations as well.
First on his to-do list has been meeting with representatives from the various city public safety bureaus and departments, as well as the respective union representatives, he said.
Hissrich is a Forest Hills native and former city paramedic who has 25 years of service with the FBI, most recently heading its Weapons of Mass Destruction Operations Response Unit in Washington.
He takes over for Stephen Bucar, another former FBI agent who left Pittsburgh in September to become deputy commissioner of staff with the Pennsylvania State Police. Acting Director Mike Huss will return to his role as assistant director.
Chris Brennan, a retired FBI agent who worked with Hissrich for seven years in Toledo, Ohio, told the Trib: “He was single, and so his life was the bureau — he was that type of guy.
“You could call Wendell any time of the day,” said Brennan. “Man, that guy — he was always there, and he always responded.”
Hissrich eventually was tapped to lead the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes and Fugitive Task Force.
“He was always a leader,” Brennan said. “He led the task force well and just made numerous arrests without any kind of problems.”
Pittsburgh EMS Chief Mark Bocian said Hissrich's background contains all elements of public safety — firefighting, EMS and law enforcement, the last bringing with it a unique perspective: counterterrorism.
“That's an extra layer that's important in public safety today,” he said.
Hissrich 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.
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