U.S. Attorney Brady Recognizes the Work of Western Pennsylvania’s Federally-Deputized Task Force Officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

PITTSBURGH, PA – United States Attorney Scott W. Brady used Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, January 9, 2020, to show support and promote respect for law enforcement officers across the Western District of Pennsylvania and beyond.

"Today we say a loud ‘THANK YOU’ to the men and women of law enforcement, who each day go to the most dangerous parts of our communities and deal with our most violent citizens, so that we and our families can be safe," tweeted U.S. Attorney Brady. "We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never repay."

Western Pennsylvania is fortunate to have a long history of cooperative law enforcement. Our most significant investigations and prosecutions have been developed through collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. That collaboration includes state and local Task Force Officers who are deputized to perform the same functions as federal agents.

U.S. Attorney Brady said, "Task Force Officers, working in collaboration with federal agents, play a vital role in safeguarding our communities by bringing criminals to justice. Every day they work to remove the most violent offenders from our communities, including drug traffickers, illegal gun possessors, dangerous fugitives and immigration violators. Federal law enforcement could not be as effective without the willingness of state and local law enforcement agencies to assign their officers to Federal Task Forces. Simply put, they help us make our streets safer."

As the lead federal law enforcement agency in Western Pennsylvania, the U.S. Attorney’s Office works cooperatively with law enforcement agencies at all levels: city police departments, county sheriffs' departments, county prosecutors, state and federal law enforcement agencies and, on occasion, foreign law enforcement agencies and international police. Task Force Officers have worked with all of these federal partners: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Secret Service; IRS-Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Full-time Task Force Officers from the following state and local agencies are critical to our efforts to keep western Pennsylvania safe:

Pennsylvania State Police

Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General

Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole

Allegheny County Courts/Probation

Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office

Allegheny County Police Department

Allegheny County Port Authority Police

Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office

Cambria County District Attorney’s Office

Cambria County Drug Task Force

Cambria County Sheriff’s Office

Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Fayette County District Attorney’s Office

Indiana County District Attorney’s Office

Indiana County Drug Task Force

Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office

Baldwin Borough Police Department

Clairton Police Department

Duquesne Police Department

Erie Police Department

Greensburg Police Department

Homestead Police Department

Indiana (Indiana County) Police Department

McKees Rocks Police Department

McKeesport Police Department

Monessen Police Department

Monroeville Police Department

Munhall Police Department

New Castle Police Department

North Strabane Police Department

North Versailles Police Department

Perryopolis Police Department

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Richland Township (Cambria County) Police Department

Greensburg Police Department

Shaler Police Department

Stowe Township Police Department

University of Pittsburgh Police

West Homestead Police Department

West Mifflin Police Department

Wilkinsburg Police Department

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was first observed in 2015 and provides an opportunity to recognize the courage, dedication and sacrifice of the uniformed men and women who protect and serve our communities.