Two police officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are currently on paid administrative leave after they were both arrested on DUI charges in separate instances. Reportedly, this is not the first time the law enforcement agents have landed in hot water for allegedly driving under the influence.
Sgt. Tariq Francis and Officer Robert Palivoda, both with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, had been previously arrested and submitted to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) following their first arrests, WPXI reported. This program, according to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, allows first-time DUI offenders to submit themselves to safe driving and alcohol counseling programs. Successful completion of said programs and a mandatory probation period might lead to the DUI charges being removed from an individual’s rap sheet.
Sgt. Francis’s first DUI arrest occurred five years ago. At the time, he was charged with a DUI hit-and-run crash, but he managed to complete ARD. After he was eventually promoted to sergeant, Francis was arrested again in November 2025. A criminal complaint obtained by CBS News detailed that a Plum Boro Police Department officer found Francis sitting slumped over in his Dodge Durango, which was parked in the lane of travel. Allegedly, Sgt. Francis was asleep and had exuded a strong alcohol smell, even going as far as believing he was at home after a few drinks at a local bar.
Officer Palivoda’s case is similar. After completing ARD for his first DUI arrest, he was once again handcuffed in January 2026. At the time, he was accused of hitting a parked car with his vehicle, and he was allegedly seen falling onto the pavement after exiting the car.
Police Review Board Outraged
Reacting to both officers’ situation, Citizen Police Review Board Director Beth Pittinger heavily criticized both men’s actions. She called them unprofessional, a “threat to public safety,” and asked for neither of them to “get a third chance,” WPXI reported.
“They have a second chance, and they blow it because they’re arrested another time,” Pittinger said. “That’s not acceptable. It’s not professional, and it’s a threat to public safety. It’s very dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando, who inherited both cases after taking over the department, said they were working to build a “very robust wellness and resiliency program.” This, according to him, will translate into better and safer street interactions.
Meanwhile, addressing Sgt. Francis and Officer Palivoda, he called the behavior unacceptable. Still, it appears he is willing to “dig” into what led to the arrests, to see if they’re “struggling with something.”
Cases Still Pending, No Termination
As stated above, Francis and Palivoda are currently on paid administrative leave. Their court cases are pending, with Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor adding that each case is different and complex due to union negotiations. He, however, stated that DUIs cost lives, labeling them a major city issue.
Normally, similar cases involving officers with two DUI convictions or a breathalyzer refusal would mean automatic termination. However, these disciplinary rules, approved three years ago, would not apply to Sgt. Francis and Officer Palivoda, since both of their initial DUI arrests occurred before the rules took effect.