Jason Lando is serving as Pittsburgh’s acting police chief as Mayor Corey O’Connor fills top roles in his administration and waits for City Council to vet and approve certain positions.
After O’Connor was sworn in Monday, he submitted to council various appointments to fill key posts, mayoral spokeswoman Molly Onufer said.
“Once that happens, those are acting directors, acting chief,” Onufer said.
Lando is among the people already serving in an acting capacity, she confirmed.
That means Lando is now at the helm of the city’s police force, taking control of a bureau that has seen its staffing drop to its lowest numbers in 20 years.
Martin Devine, who had been running the police bureau, is now the assistant chief of investigations, according to Cara Cruz, a police spokeswoman.
Lando has been at the center of a controversy in Frederick, Maryland, where he was police chief for nearly five years before returning to his hometown. He was accused of sending anonymous and harassing text messages to a former police officer.
An investigation by Maryland authorities wrapped up last month after finding “no violations of criminal law.”
Council members will have the opportunity to interview Lando under oath before voting on his appointment.
Council will need to approve the mayor’s picks for police chief and department heads. They will hold public interviews with officials before voting on their appointments.
Lando, a Pittsburgh native, is a 21-year veteran of Pittsburgh’s police department.
When O’Connor tapped him as police chief, Lando told reporters he would focus on Downtown safety, a community-based approach to policing and officer wellness.
O’Connor has said he wants to focus on recruiting and retaining more officers and bolstering public safety, especially in key areas like Downtown.
On the campaign trail, O’Connor promised to hit the ground running when he took office. He told voters he would prioritize the police chief position after five different people led the bureau under Ed Gainey, the former mayor.
Other appointments
O’Connor also has announced his picks for a slew of other key positions. Among his first appointments were Dan Gilman, who serves as O’Connor’s chief of staff, and Sheldon Williams, who O’Connor is nominating as public safety director.
Gilman served as chief of staff to former Mayor Bill Peduto and previously served as a city councilman.
Williams began his career as a Pittsburgh paramedic, served 18 years in the Army Reserves and Air Force National Guard and spent 13 years with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, where he was a member of the SWAT team and bomb squad.
Lando, Williams and other officials joined O’Connor earlier this week for a walk around Downtown, with an eye on potential improvements.
Eric Sloan, O’Connor’s nominee to head the Department of Parks and Recreation, has joined the mayor this week for visits to a couple of senior centers.
Ascending to an acting director position on Jan. 13 will be Lisa Zeidner Marcus, O’Connor’s choice for solicitor, and Ivette Mongalo-Winston, tapped to be Pittsburgh’s planning director.
All five of O’Connor’s appointments are scheduled to be formally introduced to council that day.
O’Connor on his first full day in office met with his top officials.
“You are the team that is going to make sure our vision gets done,” he told them.
