By Margaret Harding

Published: Thursday, November 1, 2012, 11:59 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The discovery of marijuana in the center console of the narcotics commander's vehicle prompted Pittsburgh police to change how they drop off vehicles for service, an official said Thursday.

Assistant Chief George Trosky said Cmdr. Cheryl Doubt is not under investigation for the discovery. A detective dropped off her vehicle for detailing at a garage on Oct. 4, and when he picked it up the next day, he found a corner piece of a baggie with a small amount of marijuana in the center console, Trosky said.

Doubt did not return a phone message seeking comment, and she was not in her office Thursday afternoon when a reporter visited.

“Someone at the garage put narcotics in the car,” Trosky said. “I don't know if they thought it was a joke. It's terrible.”

Trosky would not identify the garage because he said police bring undercover vehicles there for work. He said he doesn't know of any previous problems involving the garage.

“Hopefully, it's just one employee who's angry with police,” Trosky said.

The city recently moved Doubt to Pittsburgh Municipal Court to oversee support services. Trosky said the move is not related to the incident and was made because the commander there is recovering from a car crash and the acting commander is going on vacation.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office did not return a call for comment.

Police interviewed employees at the garage, but no one admitted to placing the marijuana in Doubt's vehicle, and investigators couldn't determine how many people had access to the car, Trosky said. He said no charges were filed.

He said he plans to require an inventory of every car before it is dropped off and again before it leaves the garage.

Doubt, a 33-year veteran, earns about $87,000 a year. She oversees the 59 officers in the narcotics, vice and firearms tracking units. She moved to the division in 2007 after overseeing the Zone 2 station in the Hill District.

Margaret Harding is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8519 or mharding@tribweb.com.

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