Advertisement FBI memo mentions potential police threat in Pittsburgh Officers bolster response to calls in wake of threat Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Pittsburgh police officers will be doubled up on patrols as a precaution after a potential threat was made against local law enforcement.VIDEO: Watch Ashlie Hardway's report"We have doubled our officers up, and we advised them to be vigilant when they are responding to calls, when they are stopping for lunch or a coffee break -- just be vigilant of their surroundings," Assistant Chief Maurita Bryant said Monday. "There are no immediate threats for the Pittsburgh area right now, but we aren't taking any chances whatsoever."An internal FBI memo says on Dec. 12 threats were made to kill "law enforcement officials and white civilians." No specific location was mentioned, but the memo says the person or group has "direct access to violent criminal enterprises" in the Pittsburgh area.A statewide officer safety memo says "a gang is en route to Pittsburgh with the intent to be pulled over to commence violence against the police.""We know that families of officers throughout the city are upset, they're nervous, they're fearful for the safety of their loved ones, so we're not taking any chances for our officers' safety," Bryant said. "Although it may seem like the community is against the police, there are so many people that love our officers and we love them."FBI Supervisory Special Agent Gregory Heeb said the information received around Dec. 12 was passed along informally to Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia law enforcement agencies before being officially released over the weekend."Everything we've gotten with regard to this threat, we've shared," Heeb said. "We'll let people make their own conclusions about its credibility."In wake of recent events, Bryant is urging all residents who support law enforcement to put a blue light in their windows. Blue lights can be purchased in the holiday section of large retail stores or at locally-owned hardware stores.