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PDP Services & Initiatives
Safety Ambassador Program
PDP’s Safety Ambassadors help make Downtown Pittsburgh feel safe and friendly for workers, visitors, and residents alike. Seven days a week our Safety Ambassadors walk and ride bikes throughout the Golden Triangle, on the lookout for problems or people needing assistance. They are trained to deal with panhandlers, homeless individuals, and minor medical .jpg) problems, as well as to provide directions and information about Downtown and nearby attractions.
PDP’s Safety Ambassadors carry radios and/or cell phones for communication with the police, social service providers, and the PDP office. Ambassadors are not commissioned law enforcement officers and do not carry weapons.
The Safety Ambassadors rack-up an impressive list of statistics. From January 2008 to June, the Safety Ambassadors:
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Assisted 12,597 pedestrians and over 1,600 motorists
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Walked over 7,280 miles and biked close to 580 miles
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Handled sixty-six 911 calls
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Picked up 24,965 pieces of trash
Free Safety Escort Program
 The PDP offers a free Safety Escort Program designed for anyone looking for a little help or extra security walking from one location to another Downtown. Upon request, and with at least 30 minutes advance notice, a PDP Safety Ambassador will accompany an individual to a requested destination, such as a parked vehicle, an office or a bus stop.
Since January 2008, the Safety Ambassadors have assisted over 700 individuals, providing them with extra security walking to their Downtown destinations.
For additional program details and information on requesting a Safety Escort, click here for a printable version of our Safety Escort Program brochure.
Call (412) 589-0110 to schedule your Safety Escort.
E-mail the Safety Ambassador Program Manager with questions, comments and information about recruitment.
Our Homeless Outreach Program
This spring, our Safety Ambassadors were out and about promoting a new system and message. The PDP Safety Ambassadors have been distributing handouts throughout their shifts to encourage people to "Say NO to Panhandlers and say YES to helping the homeless." The new ads are displayed on sandwich boards throughout the city. You can also download and print a copy to place in your business or store's window by clicking here.
From January 2008 to June, the Safety Ambassadors:
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Distributed over 9,000 anti-panhandling cards
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Handled 789 passive panhandling incidents and 625 aggressive cases
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Assisted with 1,315 Homeless Outreach cases
Most homeless do not panhandle but if you see a panhandler, especially those who are aggressive, please call our Homeless Outreach Coordinator, LaKesha Austin, at (412) 589-0357.
Safety Ambassadors in the News
The PDP's Safety Ambassador Program is catching the attention of the local media. Check out some of the news articles below. Kudos team!
Tribune-Review: August 28, 2008
Tribune-Review: July 21, 2008
Post-Gazette: June 21, 2008
Tribune-Review: June 21, 2008
KDKA-TV: March 24, 2008
Additional Safety Information for Downtown
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For information about the Pittsburgh Police Department, click here. -
Click here to access a Pittsburgh Police Tip Form. -
Go to the City of Pittsburgh's Code of Ordinances page to learn the rules about solicitation, vending, and more. -
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City of Pittsburgh Police Programming - The Zone Two Pittsburgh City Police Department would like to inform business owners about their new, "CRYWOLF" program. CRYWOLF is intended to provide police with a person to contact in case of an emergency after business hours. Once you register your business, you'll be provided with an identification decal to be placed in an area of your business which can be accessed by a responding police unit. The police unit will then cross-reference the number, contact you or the designated person on the form and inform them of the emergency/situated to be addressed. To participate in the CRYWOLF program, click here to download a printable form.
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