Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board Hears Concerns Over Staffing And Safety

By: Patrick Damp/KDKA-TV

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Concerns over staffing and inmate safety were the topics of discussion at an Allegheny County Jail Oversight Board hearing.

However, frustrations mounted because some board members as well as Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald were not at the hearing.

The jail officers' union president said there's a crisis at the jail due to staffing issues.

"We have 28 officers that have a year in and in they have over 1,700 hours of overtime in the last month, 1,700 hours of overtime," said Brin Englert, the union president. "That's 70 hours every month."

"People are dying, people are sick, people are losing their legs in jail, and we have officers acting as medical personnel," said Tanisha Long, a local activist.

Next week, Allegheny County is holding a virtual career fair and there are at least 44 openings for jobs.