While there’s no indication the final hours of the presidential race will spur unrest in Pittsburgh, city police are prepared for any problems, Acting Chief Christopher Ragland said Monday morning.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police intelligence unit has not seen evidence of any specific, election-related threats, Ragland said during a press conference at police headquarters on the city’s North Side. That said, the 750-strong force department is preparing for “an all-hands-on-deck kind of moment,” he added.

“We know what the expectations are and we’re prepared,” Ragland said Monday, during his first press conference as leader of the police bureau following the departure of the former chief, Larry Scirotto. “We will not tolerate violence, and we will intervene when we see such.”

Officers will work their standard 10-hour shifts Monday and Tuesday, and days off have been cancelled, Ragland said. He said the current schedule “provides for maximum coverage.”

Ragland would not specify how many uniformed officers will be working Monday and Tuesday.

Pittsburgh Public Safety Direction Lee Schmidt was present at the Monday morning press conference but did not speak or take reporters’ questions.

Ragland also stressed Monday the bureau is prepared to handle former President Donald Trump’s planned rally at PPG Paints Arena this evening.

Attendees will see the most visible law enforcement presence from city officers, who are working with the U.S. Secret Service, from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday. They plan to close part of Centre Avenue near the Uptown arena.

Pittsburgh police will be collaborating throughout the next two days with Pennsylvania State Police and Allegheny County Police, Ragland said.

He stressed, however, that incidents short of violence or a crime that occur near voting booths are not city police officers’ responsibility.

“We will respond to crimes, but incidents at polling places, that’s the domain of the sheriff’s department,” Ragland said.

Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus has assigned 16 deputies to handle election security Tuesday, according to Mike Manko, the office’s spokesman.

“We will respond to polling places as necessary, including to serve as backup to any local police departments that are responding to any altercations,” Manko said.

Any disputes at polling places will be handled initially by elections officials, who will decide whether a Common Pleas Court judge needs to be involved.

“If the judge does get involved and issues an order, it is then our responsibility to deliver and execute that court order,” Manko said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)