{"id":208889,"date":"2026-06-02T23:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T23:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/208889\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T23:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T23:01:17","slug":"11-investigates-exclusive-pittsburgh-city-council-president-reacts-to-fire-chiefs-suspension-wpxi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/208889\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Investigates Exclusive: Pittsburgh City Council president reacts to fire chief\u2019s suspension \u2013 WPXI"},"content":{"rendered":"

PITTSBURGH \u2014 There\u2019s new fallout on the suspension of Pittsburgh\u2019s fire chief.<\/a><\/p>\n

The reason is still a mystery 24 hours after 11 Investigates broke the story.<\/p>\n

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones placed on administrative leave, sources say<\/a><\/p>\n

The President of Pittsburgh City Council, Dan Lavelle, told Chief Investigator Rick Earle he has no idea why Fire Chief Darryl Jones was placed on paid leave Monday morning.<\/p>\n

And he said he hasn\u2019t been given any reasons by Mayor Corey O\u2019Connor\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n

Lavelle, who\u2019s been on council for 16 years, also said he\u2019s never gotten any complaints about the chief.<\/p>\n

Earle: Pretty surprised?<\/p>\n

Lavelle: I was. <\/p>\n

Earle: And you haven\u2019t been given a reason either? <\/p>\n

Lavelle: No, I have not. <\/p>\n

Earle: Shocked when you found this out?<\/p>\n

Lavelle: Yes. I found out through the media when I got a call about it.<\/p>\n

Lavelle said he was surprised and concerned that longtime Fire Chief Darryl Jones has been suspended with pay pending an internal review of the operations of the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau.<\/p>\n

Earle: This came as a surprise to a lot of people? <\/p>\n

Lavelle: Oh, very much so. I don\u2019t have any specifics. All I\u2019ve heard is that there\u2019s not a criminal complaint, there\u2019s no sexual complaints or anything of that nature. I know he\u2019s been a terrific public servant for at least the last 19, close to 20 years now, and so I have nothing but the highest regard for him.<\/p>\n

The O\u2019Connor administration declined to comment, only issuing a statement affirming that Jones has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal review.<\/p>\n

Sources tell 11 Investigates that the internal review is evaluating management of the bureau, including budget and staffing.<\/p>\n

Council President Lavelle also questioned whether that rises to the level of a suspension.<\/p>\n

Earle: It was an internal review of the operations and management of the bureau, which leaves it open to wide interpretation. <\/p>\n

Lavelle: Very wide interpretation, which to me means you still leave him on active duty while you\u2019re working an internal investigation out. <\/p>\n

Earle: That\u2019s what you would have suggested? <\/p>\n

Lavelle: Yes.<\/p>\n

Earle: Leave him on, especially if we\u2019re paying him. <\/p>\n

Lavelle: Yes. <\/p>\n

Earle: Taxpayers are still paying him.<\/p>\n

Lavelle: We\u2019re still paying him; leave him on, let him perform the duties. If there\u2019s anything that needs worked out in the department, let\u2019s work it out.<\/p>\n

Earle reached out to Chief Jones yesterday and again today, but has not heard back.<\/p>\n

Sources told Earle that the chief was blindsided by all of this and wasn\u2019t given a reason for his paid suspension. <\/p>\n

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