Pittsburgh planning tight security during New Year's Eve First Night
Streets in Downtown Pittsburgh will begin closing as early as 10 a.m. Tuesday in preparation for the city’s annual First Night celebration.
Public Safety officials plan to have an army of police officers from the city, state, Allegheny County and Port Authority of Allegheny County on the streets and monitoring numerous surveillance cameras for potential drunkenness and bad behavior.
“I believe the road closures, some of them, will start as early as 10 a.m., noontime. By 3 p.m., I believe most of the roads will be in the process of being shut down,” Director of Public Safety Wendell Hissrich said.
“The weather appears to be favorable,” he said. “It’s supposed to be cloudy. Temperatures, I guess, around 6 o’clock are supposed to be at 39 degrees and around midnight 34 degrees, so dress appropriately; dress warm.
Hissrich said, “You’ll see an abundance of police officers. Police officers will be in plainclothes; also police officers (will be) in high vantage points overlooking the crowd.”
Sections of streets scheduled for staggered closures include Penn Avenue, McCrea Place, Barker Place, Scott Place, Cecil Place, Fifth Avenue, Seventh Street, Ninth Street, Exchange Way and Garrison Place. Bike lanes will remain open.
Hissrich advised visitors to park outside of the Golden Triangle and take public transportation and cabs Downtown.
He said police will activate a real-time crime lab permitting officers to watch surveillance cameras, have immediate radio contact with police in the streets and receive reports from outside the city.
“This is a family-oriented event, and we want everybody to participate safely,” Hissrich said. “If you’re thinking about drinking and driving, you should use Uber, Lyft or cabs — or a designated driver. Needless to say, not only in the city of Pittsburgh, but the state and municipal suburban police departments will be looking for erratic driving.”
Pittsburgh’s gunshot detection system, ShotSpotter, covers 18 square miles. The city will have extra officers on patrol for reports of gunfire.
“We will try to respond to every one of them,” Hissrich said. “If we do find somebody with a firearm, they will be charged.”
Hissrich said visitors will have to clear metal detectors and bag checks while entering events. The Pittsburgh Cultural District has a list of prohibited items, including weapons, illegal drugs and flammable liquids.
“We don’t want to make it look like you’re walking into a prison,” Hissrich said, “but at the same time, we have to take the necessary precautions to make sure everyone is safe.”
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