Allegheny County Police Department

Allegheny County Police Department
Patch of Allegheny County Police Department
Patch of Allegheny County Police Department
Seal of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Seal of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Flag of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.svg
Flag of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.svg
AbbreviationACPD
Motto"To Serve With Honor"
Agency overview
Formed1932; 93 years ago (1932)
Employees216 Sworn
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionAllegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Jurisdiction of Allegheny County Police Department
Size745 square miles (1,930 km2)
Population2,681,666 (2017)
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Police officers220
Civilian employees55
Agency executive
Facilities
Horses19
Website
www.alleghenycounty.us/police/index.aspx

The Allegheny County Police Department is a law enforcement agency in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The department provides law enforcement services on County property, including the Pittsburgh International Airport, the Allegheny County Airport, and various parks. Between 2017 and 2021, the ACPD was contracted by the borough of Wilmerding. It also provides assistance to all municipal law enforcement agencies in the County, and generally investigates all serious crimes, such as homicide, except in the City of Pittsburgh.

History

The Allegheny County Police Department was established in 1932 by an act of the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners and the Pennsylvania Legislature.

Organization

The executive of the Allegheny County Police Department is the Superintendent, who is appointed by the County Executive, and assisted by two Assistant Superintendents.[1] The current Superintendent is Christopher Kearns, since March 2021.[2][3] The department is in turn divided into two Divisions, each commanded by an Assistant Superintendent.

Uniformed Division

An ACPD Canine Unit officer and his dog screening a US Secret Service vehicle for explosives.

The Uniformed Division is primarily responsible for patrol of the Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny County Airport, nine county parks and several other county facilities and buildings.

A marked ACPD Chevrolet Impala patrol vehicle.
An ACPD Chevrolet Impala patrol vehicle.
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal K-9
  • Detention Services
  • Narcotic Detection K-9
  • Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)
  • Airport Drug Interdiction Team
  • Mounted Unit[4]
  • Motorcycle Detail
  • Dive Unit

Detective Division

The Detective Division is primarily responsible for investigation of crimes which occur on county property, and all serious crimes which occur within municipalities.

  • General Investigations
  • Homicide
  • Narcotics
  • Executive Protection / Cold Case Squad
  • Evidence Processing Unit

Contract services

Between 2017 and 2021, the department provided law enforcement services to the borough of Wilmerding.[5][6][7]

Ranks

Title Insignia
Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Inspector
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Patrolman None

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the department, three members have died in the line of duty.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Police | Command Staff". www.alleghenycounty.us. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  2. ^ "Superintendent". Allegheny County. 2024-09-18. Archived from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  3. ^ Herring, An-Li (2021-02-09). "Allegheny County Police Will Get New Leader, Critics Say Community Should've Helped Choose Him". 90.5 WESA. Archived from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  4. ^ "Mounted Patrol Unit | Police | Allegheny County". www.alleghenycounty.us. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  5. ^ "Allegheny County set to provide police to Wilmerding next year". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  6. ^ "Pitcairn to take over policing Wilmerding". WTAE; Pittsburgh's Action News 4. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  7. ^ "Growing up through the cracks: Policing change brings cops up close with kids in poverty". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  8. ^ "Allegheny County Police Department, PA". The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP). Retrieved 2019-04-03.

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