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Pittsburgh police won't send officers to certain emergency calls, will redirect to telephone unit

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Pittsburgh police won't send officers to certain emergency calls, will redirect to telephone unit

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Police officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will no longer respond to lower-priority calls that the bureau says do not require an in-person response, and will instead redirect them to its Telephone Reporting Unit.

Officers will still respond to “in-progress emergencies,” where a person may need medical aid, domestic disputes, calls with evidence or where the Mobile Crime Unit will be requested to process a scene, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police said in a statement announcing the changes.

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The Telephone Reporting Unit will field calls for theft, harassment, criminal mischief and burglary alarms, WPXI-TV reported.

The change went into effect on Monday as part of a sweep of operational adjustments at the bureau meant to allocate its resources in a more efficient way to better serve citizens, Chief Larry Scirotto said in a statement.

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The Pittsburgh Police Department will redirect lower-priority calls to its enhanced Telephone Reporting Unit. (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police )

Officers will also transition from the traditional five 8-hour workdays to four 10-hour shifts each week, giving officers three consecutive days off.

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“An additional day away from work each week to focus on family, friends, or outside pursuits is key to creating a healthy workforce and contributes to the Bureau’s goal of not only recruiting new officers, but retaining them for the long haul,” Sciotto said.

Police departments nationwide have sought ways to improve officer retention and recruitment after many have reported staffing shortfalls amid anti-police sentiment over the past several years.

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But critics in Pittsburgh say that when officers are called, citizens expect them to show up.

“It’s kind of the whole point of the police force, isn’t it? You know, when you call them, they’re supposed to be there,” resident Ray Matthews told WTAE-TV. “That’s the whole point. If you call and they don’t come, what’s the sense in having them at all, you know what I mean?”

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Some residents are concerned about the changes at the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, File)

Councilman Anthony Coghill told WPXI-TV that he expects officers to respond to certain calls.

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“When it comes to harassment and things of this nature, you better have a police officer there,” Coghill said. “That’s what the public expects. That’s what I expect out of our city.”

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Pittsburg, PA

2 young girls found dead in suitcases in Cleveland, police say

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2 young girls found dead in suitcases in Cleveland, police say


The bodies of two young girls were found inside suitcases in Cleveland, Ohio, police said on Tuesday. 

In a press conference, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said on Tuesday that the bodies of the two girls were found in suitcases buried in shallow graves on Monday evening. One of the girls was believed to be between the ages of 8 and 13 years old, while the other was believed to be 10 to 14 years old. Neither girl was identified as of Tuesday night. 

“This is a priority,” Todd said during Tuesday’s press conference. “This is a traumatic event for our officers, for the community, and this is just such a tragic incident, but we are trying to develop any leads we can.”

Police said there are no active missing persons reports in Cleveland that match the two victims. 

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Officials said someone walking their dog near East 162nd Street and Midland Avenue found what appeared to be a body inside a suitcase around 6 p.m. on Monday. When officers responded to the scene near Ginn Academy, they found one of the bodies stuffed in a suitcase in a shallow grave. The second shallow grave with the body stuffed in a suitcase was found after officers searched the area.

“This is a field close to the school over there,” Todd said. “This is just a residential neighborhood that I’m sure a lot of people do frequent.”

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office has custody of the bodies and will identify the girls. Todd said there is no clear indication of possible causes of death for the girls or how long the girls were there.

“It was some time, so it’s not something that was recent,” Todd said. 

There is no suspect, Todd added. Anyone with information can contact the Cleveland police at 216-623-5464.

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“Usually in residential areas, you know what’s happening in your neighborhood, something just seems a little bit off,” Todd said. “That’s why we’re asking that anyone who has anything that they believe to be information directly related to or suspicious, that they give us a call.” 



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Connecticut

Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford

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Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford


A multi-vehicle crash temporarily close Interstate 84 on Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. and involved four cars, according to the Hartford Fire Department.

Fire crews arrived at the scene and helped one of the drivers who was trapped. The driver was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Four other people reported minor injuries but declined ambulance treatment at the scene, officials said.

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I-84 East was temporarily shut down as crews responded but has since reopened.

The Connecticut State Police is investigating the crash.



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Maine

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

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Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money


BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

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The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

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