Pittsburgh police receive $20,000 to help fund substation, mounted police unit

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh police substation is getting some more funding from the community.

The substation has been open for the past few months on Liberty Avenue.

Last March, Channel 11 reported the Pittsburgh Police Mounted Patrol was coming back after a 14-year hiatus. Police have bought the horses and are training them.

Now they're getting money to maintain them from the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.  The organization recently gave a $20,000 gift to fund the patrol and the police substation downtown, bringing their total contribution to both to $100,000.

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Channel 11 talked to several people who work downtown and say this substation is making a difference.

“I think that's great because we work until 9 p.m. here. So getting out at 9 p.m. and knowing there's more police around, I think it's good,” Amber Brown said.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership tells Channel 11 the money was used to outfit the substation with furnishings. According to Pittsburgh police crime statistics, there has been a 25 percent decrease in crime downtown from 2016 to 2017.

WPXI’s Jennifer Tomazic is working to find out when the mounted patrol will be up and running for Channel 11 News beginning at 5 p.m.

Cox Media Group