Pittsburgh’s police officers are frequently called to traumatic scenes, responding to violent crimes and helping people cope with mental health crises, Chief Jason Lando said.
Some officers struggle to manage the trauma associated with the job, Lando said.
That’s why he wants to hire a full-time mental health expert to provide support for officers. He piloted a similar program in Frederick, the Maryland town where he served as chief for five years before returning to his hometown of Pittsburgh.
It’s one of several priorities Lando highlighted in an interview with TribLive Tuesday.
“It’s not properly addressed in police departments across the country,” Lando said of officer wellness. “It’s something that’s been badly needed.”
Lando said some officers in Frederick had initially seemed skeptical of the initiative. But a year later, Lando was convinced the program was a success. Some officers had already enrolled in regular counseling sessions.
Despite a tight budget crunch that is forcing city officials to contemplate trimming empty jobs from the budget and dipping into the city’s rainy day fund, Lando is pushing to add to the budget a full-time staffer who will be dedicated to officers’ mental health.
The civilian job position would cost the city over $876,000 between now and 2030, according to budget proposals prepared by Mayor Corey O’Connor’s administration.
“If we aren’t taking care of our officers, how are they supposed to take care of the community?” Lando said.
Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams echoed his support for the proposal. He’d even like to see it eventually expand to the fire and EMS bureaus.
Williams pointed to data that shows first responders are at elevated risk of serious issues, including suicide.
“We’re being intentional on the front end” by offering a wellness program, Williams said.
Lando told TribLive his other top priorities include reducing violent crime and quality of life issues, improving recruitment and retention and offering more leadership training.
Another proposal included in the mayor’s package of budget amendments would add about $100,000 for professional development for police.
The chief told TribLive he wants to bolster leadership training opportunities after largely having to seek out management trainings independently when he climbed through the ranks himself.
Learning leadership skills in the public safety department in the past had largely been “peer driven,” Williams said.
Under Lando’s vision, officers would receive additional leadership training when they get promotions to sergeant, lieutenant or commander. Some leadership classes are already being offered, an effort Lando hopes to build on moving ahead.
The chief also reiterated his desire to build stronger community partnerships to help improve diverse recruiting and ensure people feel safe to call police when they need help or could come forward as witnesses to crimes.
“We really have to partner with the community,” Lando said. “It’s all about trust.”