In 2022, crime was a problem on the South Side of Pittsburgh.

People were concerned about safety. So were businesses. The Fudge Farm closed its South Side location in June 2022, with the owners saying after yet another shooting: “We can no longer ask teenage children or (anyone) for that matter to work for us in this environment.”

In 2023, crime was still a problem on the South Side.

In July 2023, longtime business Carson City Saloon temporarily closed its doors after 17 years during the height of baseball season after three shootings on one Saturday and what owners saw as “unchecked” negative activity.

We were critical. We weren’t alone. We challenged Mayor Ed Gainey over what was being done and why there was no progress in reducing violence over a year’s time.

Well, here we are a year later. What’s the story now?

It’s better.

The entertainment district has had a more visible and active police presence over the last 12 months. Police officers don’t just show up when something goes wrong. They are present on South Side streets every day and every night. They are writing tickets, stopping small crimes before they become big problems and being a known quantity for the people who live and work in the area.

It’s working. It isn’t just anecdotal. The numbers show it. There have been 180 arrests, almost 530 traffic stops and 50 gun confiscations in the area over the last year. That comes from an allocation of just 10 patrol officers. The change is demonstrable. ShotSpotter alerts have dropped 60%.

“I think the word is getting out. And let’s be clear about it: If you come down to South Side and cause violence, you’re gonna hear from us,” said Zone 3 Cmdr. Jeff Abraham.

Chief Larry Scirotto came up through the ranks via the South Side as a lieutenant and a zone commander. It makes sense that he understands the value of proactive activity over reactive response in the area.

Allegheny County overall is showing less violent crime this year. The first half of 2023 had 56 homicides. The first half of 2024 has 42 — a 25% decrease. Of those, just 17 are in Pittsburgh, compared to 26 last year. That’s a 12% drop.

There is still work to be done. Conversations about crime now often center on Downtown Pittsburgh.

The South Side situation is a reason to take what happens in those other areas seriously rather than dismissing them as overreaction. Pittsburgh City Council Member Bruce Kraus, who represents the South Side, called the perception of violence a “false narrative” last year.

But sticking to that story doesn’t solve problems. The work of the police and the subsequent numbers document the reality, the response and the result.

Now is the time to be honest about crime and policing — and what works and what doesn’t.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)