Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

A familiar face is heading back to a familiar place.

Frederick Police Chief Jason Lando is leaving Maryland and returning to the city where he spent most of his career after being selected to lead the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

Lando, who joined the Frederick Police Department in 2021, spent more than two decades with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police before taking over Frederick’s significantly smaller force five years ago.

The City of Frederick announced that his last day will be Friday, Dec. 5.

Mayor Michael O’Connor said Lando “has been a transformational leader for Frederick,” noting that he “strengthened trust between officers and residents, expanded crisis response partnerships, and modernized operations to reflect the best of community policing.”

O’Connor added that Pittsburgh’s gain is “a shared source of pride. This is an extraordinary recognition of his talent and of the culture of excellence we've built here in Frederick."

Lando said that Frederick “has been an incredible place to serve,” adding that “the officers here care deeply about this community, and the residents have been amazing partners in building safer, stronger neighborhoods.”

He said returning home “is both humbling and deeply personal.”

Before arriving in Frederick, Lando rose through the ranks in Pittsburgh, serving more than 20 years there and eventually becoming commander.

He was named one of three finalists in the national search for a police chief launched in 2022 by outgoing Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Corey O’Connor formally introduced Lando at his downtown campaign office. 

O’Connor called him “the kind of leader we need,” pointing to public safety as a major priority. O’Connor said he wanted a chief “immediately,” and said Lando is “somebody that believes in community policing.”

O’Connor noted he did not want to conduct a costly national search, saying he preferred “great people that love this city,” and that Lando is “the embodiment of that.”

He emphasized Lando’s more than 20 years of serving Pittsburgh residents and said bringing back that experience would help staff morale and give residents confidence that their new chief “understands what you need here in Pittsburgh.”

Lando said the moment was “overwhelming” and that “Pittsburgh is where I was born and raised. It was my home.” He said it was “bittersweet” when he left five years ago and that being asked to return “meant so much” to him.

Lando said violent crime reduction “is and always will be” his top priority, along with community outreach and engagement.

He added, “Building meaningful relationships with our community is the only way we'll be successful,” noting that officers need support and wellness resources, saying one priority is ensuring the department has “a robust wellness program.”

Frederick officials said Mayor O’Connor will name an acting chief before the search begins for the department’s next leader.

O’Connor said the department is “in good hands” during the transition, adding that Lando leaves behind “a department that is stronger, more connected, and more trusted than ever before.”