In a surprising turn of events, two Pittsburgh Bureau of Police motorcycle unit members, who were injured during the shooting incident that targeted former President Donald Trump, have been reassigned within the bureau.
This move is speculated to be a punitive measure for their involvement in Trump's security detail without obtaining the necessary authorization. This information was revealed in an exclusive report by WPXI.
According to WPXI, the Pennsylvania State Police had requested the Pittsburgh police department to provide motorcycle officers to escort Trump's motorcade from the airport to the rally site in Butler, Pennsylvania, and back. The department had assigned ten officers for this task. However, this decision was met with discontent within the department, as First Lady Jill Biden was also in town requiring security for her motorcade.
During the shooting incident, which resulted in an injury to Trump and the tragic death of former fire chief Corey Comperatore, four of the ten officers were wounded by shrapnel. Despite their injuries, these officers were seen assisting others on video. They received treatment at the scene, with one officer requiring further treatment at a hospital.
Days following the incident, two of the injured motorcycle officers, both supervisors, were reassigned to other divisions within the bureau. One was assigned to Zone 1 on the North Side and the other to Zone 3 in Allentown, as reported by WPXI. The bureau maintains that these officers did not have the necessary permission to assist with Trump's security detail, a claim the officers refute.
The department's frustration was further fueled by the fact that the officers joined Trump's detail when First Lady Jill Biden was also in the city and required security for her motorcade. This led to the dispatch of motorcycle cops from local universities to assist with Biden's security detail.
The bureau has remained reticent about the reasons behind the officers' transfer. Police Chief Larry Scirotto, in the order formalizing the transfers, stated that they were made "for the good of the bureau." A statement from spokesperson Cara Cruz reiterated this, saying, "This was an administrative decision made by the Chief." She added that she could not discuss the reasons behind the move due to personnel involvement.
Bob Swartzwelder, Fraternal Order of Police President, criticized the bureau leaders for focusing on "petty" issues instead of supporting the officers wounded in the line of duty. He said, "In a time when we should be honoring the heroics of these officers, weve created some petty administrative investigation in the midst of a serious political race."
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