Officers begin added South Side patrols

Pittsburgh police has deployed a dedicated unit patrolling the entertainment district in the city’s South Side neighborhood on weekends.

The unit includes seven Pittsburgh police officers Thursdays through Sundays, Police Chief Larry Scirotto told the Tribune-Review last week.

That effort has started this week, public safety spokesperson Cara Cruz said Friday.

The officers will work with local law enforcement partners, including Allegheny County Sheriffs, she said. Officers will work four ten-hour shifts for the next four to six weeks “or as needed beyond that time,” Cruz said.

This comes as some residents and business owners have voiced concerns about violence and crime along a busy stretch of East Carson Street over weekends. Carson City Saloon, a longtime business along the busy street, temporarily closed because of recent gun violence and concerns from staff.

Despite concerns, however, other South Side stakeholders have said they feel South Side is generally a nice neighborhood that gets a bad reputation because of problems that occur with a small number of problematic businesses on weekend nights.

Crime statistics provided by Pittsburgh police this week indicate arrests in South Side have decreased over the last five years.

Police last weekend issued dozens of citations in South Side in an effort to crack down on crime there.

Related:

• Police issue dozens of citations in South Side crime crackdown

• 'False narrative' on South Side violence is bad for the neighborhood and business, councilman says

• Carson City Saloon owner says South Side violence an 'absolute nightmare'