Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando has ordered a review of officer-worn body cam and dashcam footage in relation to an ICE arrest made outside of a city police station last week. In a written statement Wednesday, Lando said he was “recently made aware of an incident that occurred in front of Zone 3 police station, where ICE agents were struggling to take someone into custody.” The incident occurred near the Zone 3 station on East Warrington Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood.Lando said in the statement that he had the opportunity to speak with the ICE supervisor and learned that the incident had nothing to do with the Zone 3 station itself. He said agents had stopped the vehicle in question at a gas station across the street from the Allentown police station.”It has been alleged by some individuals that Pittsburgh Police officers were ordered not to intervene and were forced to stand by and watch,” Lando continued in the statement. “While our officers did not intervene in this particular situation, I am not aware of any order given that forbid them from doing so.”The chief has asked the zone commander to conduct what it called an administrative review “to ensure I have all of the relevant information.”Lando said that in his 26 years of being a cop, he has never asked someone their immigration status. “The role of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is to enforce local and state laws, and I am proud of how our officers do that job every day,” Lando said. “Our job is not, and has never been, to conduct immigration enforcement.”He also said city police are not briefed on ICE operations in advance and “often have no idea” when the federal immigration agency is operating throughout the city. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando has ordered a review of officer-worn body cam and dashcam footage in relation to an ICE arrest made outside of a city police station last week.
In a written statement Wednesday, Lando said he was “recently made aware of an incident that occurred in front of Zone 3 police station, where ICE agents were struggling to take someone into custody.”
The incident occurred near the Zone 3 station on East Warrington Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood.
Lando said in the statement that he had the opportunity to speak with the ICE supervisor and learned that the incident had nothing to do with the Zone 3 station itself. He said agents had stopped the vehicle in question at a gas station across the street from the Allentown police station.
“It has been alleged by some individuals that Pittsburgh Police officers were ordered not to intervene and were forced to stand by and watch,” Lando continued in the statement. “While our officers did not intervene in this particular situation, I am not aware of any order given that forbid them from doing so.”
The chief has asked the zone commander to conduct what it called an administrative review “to ensure I have all of the relevant information.”
Lando said that in his 26 years of being a cop, he has never asked someone their immigration status.
“The role of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is to enforce local and state laws, and I am proud of how our officers do that job every day,” Lando said. “Our job is not, and has never been, to conduct immigration enforcement.”
He also said city police are not briefed on ICE operations in advance and “often have no idea” when the federal immigration agency is operating throughout the city.
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