5 takeaways about Pittsburgh police chief nominee Jason Lando

Jason Lando, 48, was introduced Thursday as Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor’s pick for police chief.

Lando spent more than two decades with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police before taking over the significantly smaller police force pf Frederick, Md.

O’Connor campaigned on a pledge to find a permanent police chief who could restore stability to the bureau, which saw five different leaders under Mayor Ed Gainey.

Lando — whose nomination must be approved by City Council — is set to take over a bureau that has seen its numbers plunge to the lowest level in 20 years.

Here are five things to know about Lando:

1. His top priority

Lando told reporters he would focus on reducing violent crime.

Homicides in Pittsburgh have decreased in recent years, following national trends.

Even so, Lando said continuing to curb violence will be paramount. He said he would pay particular attention to Downtown, an area where some people say they still feel unsafe, even as crime rates dip.

“Once I hit the ground, that’s going to be one of the big priorities,” Lando said, adding he also is prepared to focus on South Side’s bustling — and sometimes raucous — entertainment district.

2. He’s from here

Lando was born and raised in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood, not far from where O’Connor grew up.

He led the police response to the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue — where he had attended services in his youth and had his bar mitzvah.

“Pittsburgh is where I was born and raised,” Lando said. “It is my home. It was bittersweet five years ago when I left.”

O’Connor had said repeatedly that he wanted to choose a police chief who already knew the city. Lando on Thursday told reporters he was committed to staying in the Steel City for the long haul.

3. His views on community relationships

During a press conference Thursday announcing his nomination as chief, Lando repeatedly emphasized his desire to build “genuine” relationships between police officers and the communities they serve.

He said he wants to ensure people feel safe when they see police cars driving through their neighborhoods. He wants residents to be willing to talk with law enforcement when crimes occur.

“Building meaningful relationships with our community is the only way we’re going to be successful as a police department,” he said.

Lando said his aim is to balance being available for officers and having a steady presence in the community.

“They’re going to see me every day,” he said. “I love being out with the officers, but also out with the public.”

Lando once walked a beat in the Hill District as a Pittsburgh police officer. He was with the bureau from 2000 to 2021, retiring as commander of the narcotics and vice unit.

4. His take on morale and recruitment

The city has struggled in recent years to recruit and retain officers. Though many officials believe the bureau’s ideal size would be around 900 officers, the city has shrunk its budgeted size to 800 in recent years, reflecting the difficulties in reaching even that smaller figure.

Lando said he wants to launch a robust wellness program for officers. The bureau, he said, needs to be a place where people want to work.

“I know our officers also need support,” he said. “They need encouragement.”

Some officials raised alarms that the repeated leadership changes in recent years have hurt morale and hindered efforts to bolster the bureau’s numbers.

5. He came close before

Lando was named one of three finalists in the national search for a police chief launched in 2022 by Mayor Ed Gainey.

The $80,000 search process ultimately resulted in Gainey choosing Larry Scirotto, who served as chief for about 18 months before resigning amid controversy over his decision to referee college basketball on the side.

O’Connor opted to skip a costly national search and name his chief before even taking office.

The mayor-elect said he picked Lando because installing a chief is one of his highest priorities and because it will give his nominee time to meet with community leaders before formally taking over.

Lando said his last day as Frederick’s police chief before moving back to Pittsburgh will be December 5.