Pittsburgh’s police chief is reviewing officers’ lack of ICE assistance in arrests
Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando said he is not aware of any order directing officers not to act, and he has launched a campaign Administrative review in incident.
“To that end, I recently learned of the incident that occurred in front of the Precinct 3 Police Station where ICE agents were struggling to detain someone,” Lando said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh reported that the incident occurred when ICE agents attempted to arrest a suspect near the District 3 station, when the person began fighting and kicking ICE agents.
Radio host Colin Dunlap said a Pittsburgh police officer told him they were instructed to stand down during the confrontation.
He continued, “Some individuals have alleged that Pittsburgh police officers were ordered not to intervene and were forced to stand and watch.” “Although our officers did not intervene in this particular situation, I am not aware of any order preventing them from doing so.”
The incident occurred near the District 3 station, where ICE agents stopped a car at a nearby gas station and attempted to detain a suspect, according to Lando.
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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officer Badge and Equipment. (Michael Sellock/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
While officers did not intervene, Lando emphasized that Pittsburgh police do not enforce federal immigration law and are not involved in ICE operations.
“Our mission is not, and has never been, To conduct immigration enforcement“We are not cooperating with ICE,” Lando said. We do not check immigration status on service calls. “We do not participate in arrest operations.”
He added that officers still have to respond to emergency calls for assistance, including from other law enforcement agencies, but have been directed to only help secure the scene before returning to duty.
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Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando ordered the review after officers did not intervene while ICE agents struggled with a suspect, amid allegations of a stand-down order. (Pittsburgh Police Bureau on Facebook)
Lando said he ordered the District 3 commander to conduct a review to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor said the city will continue its policy of not assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to CBS News Pittsburgh.
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O’Connor, a Democrat, made the comments in January following A.J ICE-involved fatal shooting in Minneapolis, calling the incident a “tragedy” and emphasizing that Pittsburgh aims to remain a welcoming city for immigrants.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the mayor’s office for comment.
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