By SUSAN JONES
Pitt Police Chief James Loftus retired at the end of 2023 after 10 years at the University and 40 years in law enforcement. Deputy Chief of Police Holly Lamb was appointed chief of police, effective Jan. 1.
Loftus, a Pittsburgh native, came to Pitt in July 2013 as deputy chief, after 30 years at the Miami-Dade Police Department, the last two as head of the Florida county police agency — the ninth largest in the country. A short time later, he was named chief when Tim Delaney retired after 12 years in that position.
It was Loftus who appointed Lamb as deputy chief in 2014 when he reorganized the department. When he made the appointment, Loftus said of Lamb: “I could tell she had the trust of the rank and file. People go to her to have their questions answered.” Lamb has been with Pitt Police since 1996.
Loftus declined to do an interview, but Pittwire detailed some of his accomplishments in a December article, including steadily declining crime rates on campus and increased diversity in the department during his tenure.
Loftus added police force training on cultural competency and racial profile avoidance. He also spearheaded the University’s participation in the ABLE Project, which trains officers in peer-enforced accountability. Pitt was one of the first university campuses to partner with mental health professionals on community wellness checks through the HEART program, and he significantly expanded public safety education opportunities for the Pitt community with the Citizens Police Academy and SAFE self-defense trainings.
“This was more than a job for Chief Loftus, as he demonstrated an unwavering dedication to safety and service at Pitt,” Ted Fritz, vice chancellor for public safety and emergency management, told Pittwire. “Whether working with the University’s Community Programs Unit or serving area organizations, Chief Loftus has always focused on helping others and giving back. Through his many contributions, he has established a legacy of service.”
The department has around 100 commissioned officers, which include a motorcycle unit, a bicycle unit, a K-9 unit and a Special Emergency Response Team; 10 communications room personnel; 46 security guards, and four administrative professionals.
The past few years presented some challenging times for the chief and the department.
Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020 and the summer of unrest that followed, Loftus set up monthly meetings with representatives of the Student Government Board to discuss “any issues the students want to discuss,” he said at the time. He and his senior command staff, including Lamb, also held a town hall where they stressed accountability and transparency.
A hoax shooter incident last year at Hillman Library exposed some shortfalls in Pitt’s Emergency Notification System that Loftus and others have been working to correct. This has included more training for police and better work flow for notifications, as well as panic buttons and automatic locks in classrooms.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
Have a story idea or news to share? Share it with the University Times.