Seven Pittsburgh police officers were promoted Monday and will oversee portions of a “rank and file that is … different than it was two years ago,” Mayor Bill Peduto said.
Among those promoted were a lieutenant who will head the Zone 3 station in Allentown, a sergeant who was a bodyguard for former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and an officer who responded to a controversial 911 call two years ago.
Cmdr. Karen Dixon, who was promoted Monday from the rank of lieutenant, recently worked at the Zone 5 station in Highland Park. She began working the night shift there not long after three officers were killed in Stanton Heights and helped the officers on her shift cope with shootings that wounded three other officers, including Morgan Jenkins, who had his photo taken with her after Monday’s ceremony.
The commander previously worked in the Major Crimes division, the training academy, the chief’'s office and other areas of the police department.
Chief Cameron McLay said he chose Cmdr. Dixon based in part on her experience working as an acting commander when her superiors were off. He said her work “has been exemplary.”
Two sergeants were promoted to lieutenant — Anthony Palermo and Dominick Sciulli, who worked as a bodyguard to Mr. Ravenstahl and was among those who testified for the federal grand jury that indicted former Chief Nate Harper, who conspired with others to steal from the bureau.
Chief McLay said he felt confident promoting Lt. Sciulli because he looked at files created by the FBI and city’s Office of Municipal Investigations and found no evidence that the officer had done anything wrong.
Four officers were promoted to the rank of sergeant and a fifth, Kurt Kim, who was out of town, will be sworn in as a sergeant when he returns to Pittsburgh.
Promoted Monday were Todd Waller, Timothy Novosel, Joseph Lewis and Lance Hoyson, who was one of two officers who responded to a disconnected 911 call placed by Ka’Sandra Wade the night before she was found dead two years ago. Sgt. Hoyson has previously served as a mentor for new recruits. Chief McLay called him an “excellent employee who does excellent work.”
Liz Navratil: lnavratil@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1438.
First Published: July 28, 2015, 4:08 a.m.
