Media Advisory: New DEA Philadelphia Field Division Head Coming To Pittsburgh
Event will take place from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2015
PHILADELPHIA - Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration’(DEA) Philadelphia Field Division would like to invite members of the media to the DEA Pittsburgh District Office on Thursday, October 15th between 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. The DEA office is located at 1781 McKees Rocks Road in McKees Rock, Pennsylvania.
During this meeting, Mr. Tuggle would like to inform the media about a new heroin and prescription drug initiative that focuses on community outreach, education, and prevention.
This will be Mr. Tuggle’s first visit to the Pittsburgh area since his appointment as the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Philadelphia Field Division in July of this year. In his new position, Mr. Tuggle will oversee the DEA’s offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Allentown, Scranton, and Philadelphia as well as two offices in Delaware.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead the DEA Philadelphia Field Division. I am committed to tackling the primary enforcement priorities of our region which are prescription opiates and heroin,” said Mr. Tuggle. “We will work to improve the safety of our communities and save lives by committing the resources necessary to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations. Additionally, it is essential that we further educate the public on the relationship between prescription drug abuse and its transition to heroin. Therefore, I plan to work closely with schools, coalitions and community leaders to get this message out.”
Mr. Tuggle, a Baltimore native who began his career as a Baltimore City Police Officer, joined the DEA in 1992. Since that time, Mr. Tuggle has served at offices in Baltimore, Miami, Bridgetown, Barbados, and Chicago. After being promoted in Chicago, Mr. Tuggle was transferred overseas as the DEA Country Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Upon returning from his overseas assignment, Mr. Tuggle served at DEA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia and was most recently head of the DEA’s office in Baltimore.
To insure access to the DEA office, members of the media wishing to attend on Thursday are asked to contact DEA Public Information Officer/Special Agent Patrick J. Trainor by Wednesday, October 14th at (215) 852-8740 or patrick.j.trainor@usdoj.gov.
