PITTSBURGH — The police chief of Pittsburgh announced his retirement on Friday, just one week after revealing his intention to officiate college basketball games this season. This decision raised some eyebrows among local city officials.

Chief Larry Scirotto, who had previous experience as a referee before taking on the role of police chief last year, asserted that his commitment to officiating around 60 games would not interfere with his primary responsibilities. He even proposed a reduction in salary to address any concerns. However, some members of the city council expressed the need for more information before they could endorse his salary for the upcoming year.

In his resignation letter, Scirotto explained that he preferred to step down rather than allow the refereeing situation to become a distraction for the police department.

As police chief, he was slated to earn a salary of $187,000 for the next year. In comparison, seasoned Division I basketball referees can earn upwards of $150,000 for officiating a significant number of games throughout the season, while those with less experience typically make less.

Mayor Ed Gainey appointed Scirotto as the police chief in May 2023 and previously indicated that Scirotto would not continue his basketball officiating career alongside his police duties. “We had a conversation about this, and at this time, he will not be doing that,” Gainey stated following Scirotto’s appointment.

Both the mayor and Scirotto had previously noted that they would consider revisiting the proposed refereeing role after Scirotto had fully acclimated to his position and if crime rates showed improvement.