On behalf of the men and women who are members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, welcome to the website of one of the safest cities in America.

The City of Pittsburgh was incorporated in 1816 when the population was 9,000. In 1857 an ordinance was adopted that established the police department for Pittsburgh to consist of one chief and not more than nine constables. Today, the Bureau of Police is comprised of approximately 900 sworn law enforcement officers who proudly serve the residents and visitors of Pittsburgh.

Our city has been recognized with numerous distinctions in the past but the one we are most proud of is that Pittsburgh has a strong tradition of being one of the safest cities in the United States. Our crime rates have been consistently low during the past decade and we continually strive to make the streets of our diverse neighborhoods even safer.

We place tremendous value on the relationships our officers have built in the communities they serve. Members of the Bureau of Police are intricately involved in improving public safety as our officers participate in numerous community and public safety meetings, neighborhood councils, and activities involving children and adults alike. We believe these partnerships and the professionalism of our officers and civilian staff members contribute greatly to the safe environment enjoyed by those who live in, work in and visit our great city.

We hope you'll visit our site often.

Regina McDonald
Acting Chief of Police

In 1873, the Police Badge was designed and officially adopted by the City of Pittsburgh. The badge is a unique design: The crest is from the Coat-of-Arms of William Pitt, the first Earl of Chatham, and the man for whom Pittsburgh is named. The garter around the badge is linked to King George III, the last English ruler of the American colonies. The shield is a circular fighting shield used by 15^th century Greek foot soldiers. During the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the circular shield was used extensively in the British Isles, hence its appearance in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Police Badge with its distinctive design and history is worn with great pride by the men and women of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police can not honor requests sent by non-law enforcement individuals or agencies for patches or other bureau items due to security-related issues. We will, however, provide information associated with various Bureau of Police programs upon request.

Enjoy the following gallery of recent and vintage police photos. Click on each thumbnail to view a larger image. Then click on each larger image to view other photos in the gallery.

If you know more info about any of the photos, please let us know.

Many of the above images were provided by the Pittsburgh Police Historical Association.

If you would like to assist us in preserving the history of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, please contact Officer Ken Stevwing or Commander Scott Schubert.