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Pittsburgh’s Chief Resigns to Keep Basketball Referee Job

The chief said in a press release Oct. 17 that he planned to return to refereeing NCAA basketball games — an announcement that surprised some city officials who were under the impression he’d given up the side job when he was tapped as chief in May 2023.

by Staff
October 25, 2024
1 min to read


Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto will retire from the bureau, officials said Friday, just 16 months after he was sworn in and a week after he announced he would return to officiating college basketball on the side.

His retirement will be effective Nov. 1. He will receive a yearly pension equal to his chief’s salary — $185,400 in 2024, the Post-Gazette reports.

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Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt praised the changes and initiatives the chief brought to the table over the past year and a half but said his departure shouldn’t be seen as a setback.

“The chief didn’t do that alone,” Mr. Schmidt said. “He had strong assistant chiefs under him … plus the entire command staff and all the officers every day helping move this bureau forward.


The chief said in a press release Oct. 17 that he planned to return to refereeing NCAA basketball games — an announcement that surprised some city officials who were under the impression he’d given up the side job when he was tapped as chief in May 2023.

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