Pittsburgh’s Acting Chief Resigns, Saying He was Pressured to Violate His “Ethics”

The Acting Police Chief for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police abruptly resigned Tuesday, saying that in the process of being confirmed as chief, he felt pressure to do things that were outside of his guideposts, morally, ethically and legally. He did not elaborate on what he was asked to do and by whom.

“The process turned from what it should have been, which was an honest inquiry into my qualifications for my job into a political football with endless delays and pressures for dealmaking,” Acting Chief Chris Ragland said at a press conference.

Ragland says, as time went on, it became abundantly clear that there was no end in sight and he couldn’t be the leader the city deserves, WPXI reports.

“There should be no politics in police work,” Ragland added. “You have to do things that are moral, ethical, legal. When you are asked to do things that go against your bright lines, you have to walk away.”

This is now the second time in a matter of months that a chief has abruptly resigned, leaving the city without a permanent leader.

In November, then-Chief Larry Scirotto resigned.