William P. Mullen is the 53rd Sheriff of Allegheny County, consecutively elected in 2007 and 2009 to serve the region’s 1.2 million citizens. 

Sheriff Mullen’s law enforcement career extends over 41 years.  He was formerly Deputy Chief and second in command of the Pittsburgh Police, where he was responsible for the management and supervision of all City investigations involving major crimes such as homicide, rape, robbery and narcotics and the daily oversight of the City’s six police zones.  After joining the force as a patrol officer in 1969, he was promoted through the ranks serving as Narcotics Detective, Homicide Lieutenant, Commander, Assistant Chief of Operations and Assistant Chief of Investigations. He received numerous commendations for solving serial rape and murder cases and was also recognized by the F.B.I. and the D.E.A. for the solution of high-profile investigations.

An alumnus of the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and South Catholic High School of Pittsburgh, Sheriff Mullen is also a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, Disaster Management School in Emmitsburg, Maryland and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

Most recently, Sheriff Mullen attended the National Sheriffs’ Institute in Longmont, Colorado and was heralded as one of the Country’s top 50 Irish law enforcement executives by the Irish Echo in New York City. 

Other present accomplishments include:

• Obtained grant funding to launch diverse initiatives including an Emergency Response Team for County Court facilities and a standardized PA Firearms License to Carry computer system at no cost to taxpayers.

• Acquired patrol rifles for all vehicles assigned to work within communities comprising the County’s 13 Writ Districts.  These resources will enable Deputies to better support response efforts to emergency situations occurring within the County at no detriment to taxpayers. 

• Enrolled all Transportation Deputies in the Law Enforcement Officers Flying Armed training course conducted by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration. Required Deputies to receive innovative training on critical, job-related subjects such as courthouse security, hostage negotiations and terrorism.  

• Co-Sponsored the 2010 Terry Fleck K9 Seminar with District Attorney Stephen Zappala at the Monroeville Public Safety Training Facility, feted as the largest K9 seminar in the Greater Pittsburgh area. 

• Attained SUV and $10,000.00 for fuel costs and equipment from the U.S. Marshals Service for permanent addition to the Office’s complement of vehicles.

• Promoted Go Green efforts within the Office by procuring grant funding for an automated computer reporting system to minimize paperwork and generate a more competent report tracking process, at no cost to taxpayers.

• Championed community outreach by spearheading a team to participate in the Pittsburgh Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Pennsylvania.  The Sheriff’s Office team raised the second highest donation amongst all participating law enforcement agencies and motivated a network of friends, family members and associates to contribute to an important cause. 

• Again participated in the Presents for Patients® Phone-a-thon and allocated vehicles and volunteer Deputies to deliver presents to over 20 nursing homes during the 2010 holiday season. 

• Introduced mandates preventing the Sheriff Sale of homes belonging to U.S. veterans, so that men and women serving our Country could take relief in knowing that their homes would not be foreclosed upon.  This mandate has already prevented the sale of a veteran’s home in Allegheny County. 

• Committed Deputies to law enforcement task forces working on major investigations.  Deputies are credited for dismantling key gang and drug networks — including the largest street gang in Allegheny County history — influencing the ascension of crime in the Braddock, Clairton, Hazelwood, Homewood and McKeesport Areas.

• Established Mortgage Conciliation Program and Foreclosure Assistance Hotline to help individuals facing mortgage foreclosure. 

• Established a Dead-Beat Parents website listing the County’s top offenders owing child support and a Most Wanted Fugitives website.

• Partnered with Comcast to create the On-Demand “Fugitive Files” television program.

• Closed loophole in Sheriff Sale procedures, which resulted in saving a senior citizen’s property.

• Installed laptop computers in Sheriff’s Office vehicles to automate systems and provide the most efficient service of civil process at no cost to taxpayers.
  
  
• Acquired needed computer equipment in alliance with Highmark, and at no cost to taxpayers, to stretch office resources.