Pittsburgh public safety leader will not be part of new mayor's administration

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said he’s been informed that he will not be retained under Mayor-elect Ed Gainey’s incoming administration.

“We’ve seen lots of change, and even trying times together, and hopefully we were able to make a positive difference over these past six years,” Hissrich said Thursday in a statement. “It has been my privilege to serve the city and help work towards a safer Pittsburgh for everyone.”

Hissrich, 59, was tapped for the position by Mayor Bill Peduto in late 2015. A Forest Hills native, he called the opportunity at the time his “dream job.” He was a Pittsburgh paramedic and crew chief from 1985 to 1990 before landing a job with the FBI, where he served for more than two decades.

Hissrich said he is beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve his hometown.

“In my tenure over the past six years, I’ve learned that a leader is only as good as the people working for them,” he said. “I thank every member in the Department for their hard work.”

As director of public safety, Hissrich oversaw the Office of Emergency Management and the bureaus of police, fire, EMS and animal care and control.

Gainey, who takes office Monday, hinged his campaign heavily on public safety reform, calling for the demilitarization of police, ending “over-policing” and making officers “walk the beat” in the communities they patrol.

It was not clear Thursday who might replace Hissrich. Gainey said in a November public forum that state Rep. Jake Wheatley and Jake Pawlak, his transition director, will be part of his administration, though he did not indicate at the time what their positions might be.