Pittsburgh police could give zoo employees firearms training

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Pittsburgh City Council has introduced legislation that would allow police officers the ability to train Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium employees to use firearms to deal with dangerous animal incidents.

Some of the training would be designed to improve how authorities responded in 2012 when a toddler was mauled to death after he fell into the African painted dogs exhibit.

A city official told Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE that zoo officials would train police in animal behavior and familiarize them with the zoo's layout.

After the Nov. 4, 2012, incident in which 2-year-old Maddox Derkosh was killed, officials said zoo workers and police officers went through some training.

The legislation proposed Tuesday would authorize training for three years.

According to TribLIVE, Pittsburgh public safety officials said police are not equipped and do not know enough about animal behavior to shoot an animal in the event of an incident similar to the 2012 one.

Zoo personnel must assume that responsibility and rely on police as backup, officials said.

"The zoo can't look to us to handle a dangerous animal that's on the loose," Deputy Public Safety Director Michael Huss told TribLIVE.

Police would train zoo staff in firearms handling and police procedures.

Public Safety Director Stephen Bucar told TribLIVE that the zoo would pay for the firearms training and provide training to police at no cost.

Pittsburgh Police spokeswoman Sonya Toler released the following statement:

"The Zoo & the Police Department have had an informal agreement now for the past 5 years or so. This proposal is an attempt to formalize the arrangement. It's important to note this is cross training - police will learn about the zoo animals & their behaviors and become familiar with the grounds of the zoo. Zoo employees will learn what to do when and if there is a situation with a dangerous animal that has gotten loose. You heard talk of firearms training. Police will offer training so zoo employees can better maintain and use those firearms. It's is important to public safety that the zoo employees are skilled to be the first line of control. Our officers are there to serve as back up."

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