Pittsburgh Public Schools Won't Arm District Police Officers

PITTSBURGH, PA - Bucking a trend in a growing number of southwestern Pennsylvania school districts, the region’s largest district has decided against arming its school police officers. The Pittsburgh Public Schools board on Wednesday voted down the controversial measure.

School directors voted 8-1 against providing guns to officers at district high schools and in mobile patrols. Board member Cynthia Falls was the lone member voting in favor of the proposal.

The vote bucked the wishes of district police chief George Brown, who told board members earlier this month that officers needed the weapons. It followed a Monday protest outside the district’s headquarters in Oakland by parents and taxpayers opposed to arming the district’s 22 officers.

The district has 54 schools and 24,000 students.

Suburban Allegheny County school districts that also have armed police officers or have plans to add them include Upper St. Clair, Bethel Park, Gateway, Montour, North Allegheny, North Hills, Plum and West Jefferson Hills.

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