Pittsburgh City Council to hold public hearing, interview with police chief nominee Larry Scirotto

Pittsburgh City Council will hold a public hearing and an interview with acting police Chief Larry Scirotto before voting on whether to confirm his nomination as the city’s top cop.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey last week announced Scirotto, a veteran of Pittsburgh’s police bureau, as his nominee for chief.

Scirotto retired from the Pittsburgh force in 2018 as assistant chief, having served in everything from the K-9 unit to the major crimes division. He briefly led Fort Lauderdale’s police force before resigning last year amid controversy over his minority promotions. He has filed a wrongful termination suit against the Florida city, arguing that the promotions were based on merit.

Council President Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, last week said that she had a positive relationship with Scirotto when he previously worked in her council district.

On Tuesday, she officially called for a public hearing and an interview ahead of a council vote on the nomination.

She said council is planning to host a small reception luncheon with Scirotto and council members and staff Thursday, followed by individual meetings between the acting chief and council members.

Dates have not yet been set for the public hearing, which will give the public an opportunity to offer their thoughts on Scirotto’s nomination, and the interview, which will give council members an opportunity to ask him questions about his experience, his plans for the bureau and other topics publicly.

Interviews and public hearings are generally held in council chambers and broadcast on the city’s YouTube channel and website.

“We will have some public process so the public can see how we’re making our decisions and they understand what’s going on,” Kail-Smith said.

Related:

• Larry Scirotto nominated to become Pittsburgh's next police chief