Sgt. Andrew Robinson hoped to return to patrolling East Carson Street before St. Patrick's Day weekend.
The eclectic stretch of businesses on the main drag in the South Side features some of the most popular and rowdiest destinations for revelers who want to keep the party going after the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, one of the largest in the nation.
Each year, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police floods the neighborhood with law enforcement to keep the mayhem to a minimum and ensure everyone celebrates responsibly.
But few officers are as familiar with the South Side — or as beloved — as Sgt. Robinson, who is stationed in Zone 3 and helped spearhead the South Side Entertainment Patrol. It's a community-oriented effort that local stakeholders say was a huge factor in the area's decline in crime.
But as the luck of the Irish shenanigans descend on the city this weekend, Sgt. Robinson remains in recovery after attempting to break up a fight in September that started inside the now-shuttered Oddballs on East Carson Street. He was left with several broken bones in his leg and foot.
Despite his absence, Sgt. Robinson maintains his confidence that the patrol is in peak form — and so is the South Side.
"Everything has been status quo since I left — or got forced out — but we're still community engaged, we're still affecting a lot of arrests and confiscating multiple firearms," he said.
Following an outbreak of crime that began in tandem with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sgt Robinson and Zone 3 Cmdr. Jeffrey Abraham came up with a strategy that ultimately led to the formation of the special patrol in July 2023.
The city assigned more police to the area and on Thursday through Sunday nights, officers man street corners and patrol on foot between 12th and 18th streets, employing a zero-tolerance policy concerning unruly behavior. They operate under the dictum that more officers means more visibility, and more visibility means less crime.
According to data from the Violent Crimes Dashboard,10 nonfatal shootings and a single homicide were reported in 2021 in the South Side Flats — a neighborhood that encompasses about 33 blocks crowded around East Carson Street. In 2022, there were 11 nonfatal shootings and one homicide.
In 2023, that number fell to five nonfatal shootings and one homicide. In 2024, there were just two nonfatal shootings and one homicide.
"The South Side is safer than it probably ever has been," Cmdr. Abraham said at a Thursday news conference. "If you intend to go and cause harm and disorder, you'll be met with the best and most skillful entertainment patrol in, probably, the East Coast, if not the country."
Chris Firman, co-owner of South Side nightclub Enclave, said the patrol "held it down" in Sgt. Robinson's absence.
"Sgt. Robinson really instilled the efforts of community policing, touching business owners as well as customers on the street, and just a proactive approach — [the patrol] did a great job stepping up in his absence," Mr. Firman said.
Last year, some business owners expressed concerns about safety in the lead-up to St. Patrick's Day. But Mr. Firman said the mood this year has entirely shifted. Instead, they see the influx of visitors as a way to combat the South Side's negative reputation, which persists even after crime has decreased.
Perception versus reality is an age-old problem when dealing with public safety: Many Americans tend to believe crime is increasing, even when data shows otherwise. For example, in 23 of 27 Gallup surveys conducted since 1993, at least 60% of U.S. adults have said there is more crime nationally than the year before, despite a downward trend in crime rates during most of that period.
"Unfortunately, the rhetoric from before, and you know, the way the neighborhood was — it's still the narrative that's out there," Mr. Firman said." We have done a ton of things in the past two years, and we're in a great place."
Abby Patterson, a bartender at Urban Tap in the 1200 block of East Carson Street, also highlighted community policing as a major factor in the South Side's revitalization.
"They're always nice to me and from what I've seen, to everyone," she said.
Sgt. Robinson's leave came during a period of upheaval for Pittsburgh police. Less than two months after Sgt. Robinson was injured, former Police Chief Larry Scirotto — whom the officer credits with teaching him the core components of community policing — stepped down to pursue a career as an NCAA basketball referee.
Mr. Scirotto’s sudden decision to retire after just 16 months at the helm of the department frustrated members of City Council and the public. The city spent $80,000 to hire a consulting firm to lead the yearlong nationwide search that ultimately resulted in Mr. Scirotto’s appointment.
And last month, then-Acting Chief Christopher Ragland -—who was being tapped by Mayor Ed Gainey to be the next top cop to lead the bureau -—followed suit, alleging his nomination was being used as a "political football” and that he was being pressured to make decisions he felt were unethical. Mr. Ragland didn’t elaborate.
Yet the department’s ongoing internal turmoil seems to have had little effect on the "closeness" and forward progress Sgt. Robinson fostered within the South Side, said Peter Margittai, president of the South Side Chamber of Commerce.
"Sgt. Robinson and the commander created a culture," he said.
"All the officers are out in the street talking to people, engaging with the community. They know everybody, business owners by name, regulars that come into the district by name — they even know some of the troublemakers by name."
That sense of community has all but eradicated fears of St. Patrick's Day shenanigans, Mr. Margittai said.
"Last year there was a lot of anxiety going into St Patrick's Day given years previous to that," he said. Not anymore.
Throughout the week leading up to St. Patrick's Day, the sense of excited anticipation was palpable on East Carson Street. Storefront windows were decked out in vibrant green streamers and shamrocks hung from ceilings. Some bartenders were practicing mixing specialty shamrock drinks, while servers were preparing to carry trays overflowing with drinks during their weekend shifts.
Just as they made preparations for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the community also stepped up for Sgt. Robinson during his recovery period. In February he was presented with hundreds of dollars raised to help with his medical expenses. Several local businesses in the fall held other fundraisers that raised thousands more for the beloved officer.
"The community has been very gracious," Sgt. Robinson said. "Quite frankly, I'm touched and surprised by how much the patrol has provided for the community and the businesses that are down here."
First Published: March 14, 2025, 6:59 p.m.
Updated: March 15, 2025, 2:09 p.m.
