Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto, the city’s first openly LGBTQ police chief, will retire effective November 1, just 16 months after taking office. Scirotto’s retirement comes shortly after he announced plans to resume his role as an NCAA basketball referee, a decision that surprised some officials.
Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt praised Scirotto’s impact, noting that his leadership brought valuable changes to the department. Mayor Ed Gainey supported Scirotto’s decision, emphasizing that the bureau was in a strong position due to his efforts, allowing flexibility for Scirotto to officiate part-time.
In response to his plans, Scirotto offered to take a $20,000 pay cut to create a deputy chief position, though Assistant Chief Chris Ragland will now step in as acting chief while a permanent replacement is sought. Scirotto’s retirement follows his brief but impactful tenure, in which he emphasized community engagement and aimed to elevate department morale.
