Pittsburgh City Council
Pittsburgh plans to borrow K9 units for NFL Draft policing.
Written by Amy Whipple
In the next step of NFL Draft preparation, Pittsburgh City Council agreed to bring in the big dogs.
Pittsburgh Police requested council’s approval to enter into intergovernmental cooperation agreements with 18 municipalities and agencies to bring in between 60 and 90 explosive-detection canines and their handlers. The dogs will be used to continually monitor the site for the duration of the event.
During the March 25 committee meeting, council amended the submitted legislation to prohibit assisting municipalities from partaking in immigration enforcement activities while they’re in the city.
Bob Charland of the South Side, who proposed the amendment, said, “It’s not a huge amendment on the bill, but I think it’s significant.”
Deb Gross of Highland Park, said at least three of the cooperating municipalities, including Beaver County, Washington County and Center Township, have agreements with the federal government to actively collaborate with immigration enforcement.
Four of the participants listed in the memorandum of understanding, however, are federal agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Police.
Council did not discuss whether the city had the authority to enforce the amendment with those agencies.
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- City Council · March 24, 2026
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