Committees back $583,100 auto-theft grant and authorize canine purchases for Pittsburgh police

Pittsburgh standing committees on Monday recommended approval of a $583,100 grant from the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority to support the city’s Auto Squad and approved authorizations of up to $30,000 over three years for canine purchases.

The funding and canine purchases drew detailed questions from council members about how grant dollars are used, staffing for the Auto Squad and how the department will handle abandoned vehicles and community outreach.

Acting Chief Marty DeBine told the committee the auto-theft prevention grant is “supported by the insurance company. So we receive money which pays for one of our detectives’ salaries, pays for overtime, pays for equipment, pays for vehicles.” DeBine said a recent audit prompted the department and grants staff to open a new fund for these revenues and to tighten accounting practices.

Councilwoman Kale Smith asked what had happened with an earlier grant and whether funds had been used as intended under the previous supervisor. DeBine said that after the previous detective left the unit the department relied on detailed officers and later transferred another detective to the unit; he said the department currently has two detectives assigned and is in the process of filling positions. He identified Detective Derek Kunz as having assisted while staffing was limited.

Committee members also pressed the department on abandoned-vehicle enforcement. Acting Chief DeBine said the department plans an “abandoned vehicle blitz,” with each police zone submitting lists of vehicles to prioritize for removal; removed vehicles are taken by a salvor to privately operated storage facilities. Councilman Warwick and others encouraged a zone-by-zone approach and asked the department to coordinate storage and public information.

Sergeant Kyle Nelson, who oversees the K-9, EOD and mounted units, described the bureau’s existing canine capacity and the planned purchases. “The easy answer is 15,” Nelson said when asked how many K-9s the bureau currently has; he described a mix of electronics-detection dogs, a bloodhound, five narcotics dogs and six explosives dogs and said the unit is available by call-out when not on patrol. Nelson said breeders typically charge about $9,500 for a trained dog and that the $30,000 authorization over three years would allow replacement as dogs age out rather than expanding the unit.

Council members said they value visible units — mounted patrol, K-9s and community engagement at events — as tools for building relationships with young people and neighborhoods. Several council members thanked department leaders for recent staffing moves and for addressing audit recommendations.

All three police-related resolutions — the Auto Squad grant and the two canine purchase authorizations — received an affirmative committee recommendation and moved on for final consideration by full council.