Target 11 Investigates: SWAT team truck damaged

PITTSBURGH — The city of Pittsburgh Police Bureau SWAT team brought its armored vehicle to the repair shop in the Strip District for routine, preventative maintenance, including an oil change. Turns out, it was anything but routine.

Target 11 found that armored vehicle Friday morning still sitting in the First Vehicle Services repair shop lot in the Strip District.

It’s been here for about two weeks, after a mechanic’s mishap.

A City of Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson confirmed to Target 11 that a mechanic responsible for changing the oil, emptied the old oil, but apparently forgot to refill the armored vehicle with new oil.

When a mechanic took it out for a test drive, it damaged the engine beyond repair.

For years, the city has had a contract with First Vehicle Services to maintain and repair all city vehicles, from EMS ambulances to Police motorcycles.

First Vehicle had to install a new engine in the armored vehicle, and they did it at no cost to the city.

“The vehicle received a new engine...with 2 additional years of warranty. It was replaced at no cost to the taxpayers, PBP or City of Pittsburgh,” said Public Safety Spokesperson Amanda Mueller.

The spokesperson told Target 11 that there is a backup plan in place for situations just like this.

The city has a spare armored vehicle, and an Allegheny County Police armored vehicle is on standby, just in case of an emergency.

And during the past two weeks, we’ve seen the city’s spare armored vehicle respond to incidents, along with the county’s armored vehicle assisting city police.

The armored vehicle with the new engine has been repaired and is supposed to be returned to SWAT any day now.

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