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Union delivers 1,044-signature petition to Allegheny County seeking return of leg restraints on hospital transports
Summary
Correctional officers and petition organizers handed county leaders 1,044 signatures to restore leg restraints on hospital runs, saying the county jail is not overcrowded and pointing to recent escape attempts and empty housing units as reasons to reverse policy changes.
Allegheny County correctional officers and petition organizers told County Council on July 15 that they delivered 1,044 registered-voter signatures seeking to reinstate leg restraints on hospital transports.
The petition organizers said the 1,044 signatures exceed the 500-signature threshold for county review. “We have completed our petition phase of our initiative regarding the reinstating of leg restraints on hospital runs with 1,044 petition signatures from registered voters in Allegheny County,” a petition organizer told the council during public comment.
The petition and union leaders framed the effort as a safety measure for officers, hospital staff and patients. Brian Engler, president of the correctional officers’ union at the Allegheny County Jail, said officers have been speaking directly with residents across the county to gather support and that the jail currently has unused housing capacity. “Many of us officers were out in your districts talking with your constituents about the issue and asking for their signature,” Engler said. He added, “We actually have 5 empty housing units. We definitely are not overcrowded.”
Engler described the petition as intended to reverse a previous ballot change and told council members the initiative has drawn broad public support. He also emphasized safety incidents he said justify returning restraints to hospital runs: “Officer Wright is a great new officer. I need to keep her in that jail. But within the first 6 months of her career, she had to stop an active escape attempt.” Earlier in the meeting, county leaders recognized officers Damara Dixon and Amara Wright for intervening during attempted escapes while assigned to hospital details.
Union representatives described a countywide outreach plan should the petition move forward. “Were gonna be out in your districts asking them to come talk to you about this,” Engler said, describing door-to-door visits and conversations with voters.
A council member announced a special meeting of the Jail Oversight Board scheduled for the following day at noon to consider re-upping the monthly stipend for incarcerated individuals; the announcement was made during liaison reports. The council did not take a formal vote on the petition during the July 15 meeting.
The petition organizers and union requested that council members and county staff consider the petition for formal review and for the council to coordinate with the county clerk and law department as required by county procedures for citizen initiatives.
Clarifying details from public comment: the petition organizers said the petition contains 1,044 signatures and that 500 signatures are required for county review; union leaders said the jail has five empty housing units.
What happens next: petition organizers said they expected county clerk and law department review; council members did not vote on the petition at the July 15 meeting.
