View source for Port Authority Police Department (Allegheny County)

{{Short description|Law enforcement agency in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania}}
{{Third-party|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname=Allegheny County Port Authority Police Department
|abbreviation=PAPD
|animal1type=Dogs
|animals1=2
|chief1name=Matt Porter
|chief1position=[[Chief of Police]]
|commonname=
|country=United States
|divname=[[Pennsylvania]]
|divtype=State
|employees=68
|governingbody=Port Authority Board
|headquarters=345 Sixth Avenue<br/>Pittsburgh, PA
|parentagency=Port Authority of Allegheny County
|subdivname=[[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny County]]
|subdivtype=County
|sworn=46
|sworntype=Officers
|unsworn=12
|unsworntype=Civilian
|website=[https://www.portauthority.org/inside-Port-Authority/rider-info/safety-and-security/port-authority-police/ Department Website]
|preceding1=[[Pittsburgh Railways]] Police Department
|unitname={{Collapsible list |title=6 |Bike|Canine|Emergency Services|Plain Clothes|Collision Investigation|Digital Forensics}}
|unittype=Units
|budget=$4.6 million <ref name="2020 Budget">{{Citation |author= Port Authority of Allegheny County|year= 2020|title= Operating and Capital Improvement Budget|page= 81|url= https://www.portauthority.org/link/c0e5a320b98749f9bd265af2b377f0ad.aspx|accessdate= 2020-04-05}}</ref>
}}
The '''Port Authority Police Department''' is a [[law enforcement agency]] in [[Allegheny County, Pennsylvania|Allegheny County]], [[Pennsylvania]]. It is a [[transit police]] agency, authorized by Title 22, Chapter 33 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which provides [[policing]], [[Criminal investigation|investigation]] and [[crime prevention]] services to [[Port Authority of Allegheny County]] facilities, routes and services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.laurenrenaud.com/blog/2016/6/28/the-overlapping-police-departments-of-allegheny-county|title=The Overlapping Police Departments of Allegheny County|website=Lauren Renaud|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228070114/http://www.laurenrenaud.com/blog/2016/6/28/the-overlapping-police-departments-of-allegheny-county|archive-date=2019-02-28|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.portauthority.org/paac/RiderServices/PoliceSafety.aspx|title=Port Authority of Allegheny County > Rider Services > Police & Safety|website=www.portauthority.org|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327011055/http://www.portauthority.org/paac/RiderServices/PoliceSafety.aspx|archive-date=2019-03-27|url-status=live}}</ref>
== History ==
The first officer attributed to the Port Authority Police Department, Rege Kelly, was appointed in 1968 to investigate security issues and serve as a liaison with other law enforcement agencies. At that time, patrol services were provided by the [[Allegheny County Sheriff|Allegheny County Sheriff's Office]] on a contract basis. Kelly, a retired officer of the [[Pittsburgh Police|Pittsburgh Bureau of Police]], was subsequently appointed as the first Chief of Police upon the formal formation of the department.
In 1985 the Port Authority Police Department reorganized as a police department under Title 22, Chapter 33 of the [[Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes]]. The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office withdrew all services in 1997, placing full responsibility for transit policing on the PAPD. The then Chief, William T. McArdle, directed the expansion of the department, including creation of a number of specialized units, and prioritized officer education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.portauthoritypolice.org/history.htm|title=Port Authority Police, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA|website=www.portauthoritypolice.org|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330023648/http://portauthoritypolice.org/history.htm|archive-date=2015-03-30|url-status=live}}</ref>
The merger of the PAPD with the [[Allegheny County Police Department]] for cost-saving and oversight purposes has been explored on a number of occasions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/proposal-would-merge-police-units-in-allegheny-county/|title=Proposal would merge police units in Allegheny County {{!}} TribLIVE.com|website=archive.triblive.com|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065804/https://archive.triblive.com/news/proposal-would-merge-police-units-in-allegheny-county/|archive-date=2019-02-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Organization ==
[[File:Port Authority of Allegheny County Police car.JPG|alt=A marked PAPD Ford Police Interceptor Utility patrol vehicle, parked on a sidewalk and occupied by a solo officer.|thumb|A PAPD [[Ford Police Interceptor Utility]] patrol vehicle.]]The executive of the Port Authority Police Department is the [[Chief of police|Chief of Police]], currently Matt Porter, and is appointed by the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
In addition to regular patrol officers which conduct foot and motor patrol, the department comprises several specialized units.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/activists-are-concerned-allegheny-county-port-authority-police-arent-being-held-accountable/Content?oid=1947880|title=Activists are concerned Allegheny County Port Authority Police aren't being held accountable|website=Pittsburgh City Paper|language=en-us|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065957/https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/activists-are-concerned-allegheny-county-port-authority-police-arent-being-held-accountable/Content?oid=1947880|archive-date=2019-02-28|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/explorer/agency/PA0022D00/pe/2007/2017|website=crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov|access-date=2019-04-04|title=Archived copy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404134244/https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/explorer/agency/PA0022D00/pe/2007/2017|archive-date=2019-04-04|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Bike Unit''' - The Bike Unit provides patrol, traffic enforcement, crowd control and community relations services and are regularly deployed to [[Downtown Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh's central business district]], Port Authority [[park and ride]] lots and pedestrian and bicycle throughways. The unit utilizes [[mountain bike]]s, and officers are certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.portauthoritypolice.org/bike.htm|title=Port Authority Police, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA|website=www.portauthoritypolice.org|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603191443/http://portauthoritypolice.org/bike.htm|archive-date=2016-06-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Emergency Services Unit''' - The Emergency Services Unit provides tactical, [[Counter terrorism|counter-terrorism]], protective, hazardous materials and explosives services. Officers also conduct routine patrol duties and operate in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police to respond to critical incidents both on and off the Port Authority system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.portauthoritypolice.org/ESU.htm|title=Port Authority Police, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA|website=www.portauthoritypolice.org|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603191432/http://portauthoritypolice.org/ESU.htm|archive-date=2016-06-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Plain Clothes Unit''' - The Plain Clothes Unit, also referred to as the detective unit, provides investigative services for crimes which occur on or against Port Authority property. Serious offences, such as sexual assault or homicide, are referred to the Allegheny County Police Department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yellowpages.com/pittsburgh-pa/mip/port-authority-police-dept-467371026?lid=467371026&from=SocSh_Facebook|title=Port Authority Police Dept in Pittsburgh , PA|website=YP.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192031/https://www.yellowpages.com/pittsburgh-pa/mip/port-authority-police-dept-467371026?lid=467371026&from=SocSh_Facebook|archive-date=2019-02-28|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Digital Forensics Unit''' - Formerly the Computer Forensics Unit, the Digital Forensics Unit provides video, audio, and cell phone evidence analysis. This unit regularly assists outside agencies due to its unique specialist nature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.portauthoritypolice.org/forensics-unit.htm|title=Port Authority Police, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA|website=www.portauthoritypolice.org|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603193530/http://portauthoritypolice.org/forensics-unit.htm|archive-date=2016-06-03|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Collision Investigation Unit''' - The Collision Investigation Unit, also referred to as the traffic or accident unit, investigates serious collisions involving Port Authority vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.portauthoritypolice.org/accident-unit.htm|title=Port Authority Police, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA|website=www.portauthoritypolice.org|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224125311/http://portauthoritypolice.org/accident-unit.htm|archive-date=2016-02-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''Canine Unit''' - The Canine Unit provides patrol and explosives detection services throughout the Port Authority system.
== Vehicles ==
The PAPD utilizes the [[Ford Police Interceptor Utility]], [[Chevrolet Suburban]] and [[Chevrolet Impala]] as marked patrol vehicles. It also operates a Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD with a utility body as the primary Emergency Services Unit vehicle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/transit/transit423.html|title=police cars|website=www.policecarwebsite.net|access-date=2019-05-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306152014/http://www.policecarwebsite.net/fc/transit/transit423.html|archive-date=2018-03-06|url-status=live}}</ref> All SUVs are fitted with full-coverage wrap-round [[Bullbar|push bars]] for moving disabled vehicles. The department is in transition between an all white paint scheme with a blue stripe and department seal on the front doors, and a more complex blue-and-white LAPD-style color scheme featuring large lettering across both doors and the department badge on the front quarter-panel.
== See also ==
* [[Allegheny County Police Department]]
*[[Allegheny County Sheriff's Office]]
*[[Allegheny County Housing Authority Police|Allegheny County Housing Authority Police Department]]
*[[Law enforcement in Pennsylvania]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Port Authority of Allegheny County]]
[[Category:Transit police departments of the United States]]
[[Category:Port police departments of the United States]]
[[Category:County law enforcement agencies of Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Specialist police departments of Pennsylvania]]