Liberty picks interim chief for police department

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

A captain since 2004, Richard Tisone plans on a smooth transition.

LIBERTY — Township trustees have determined who will lead the township’s police department — at least for the time being.

Capt. Richard Tisone has been picked to serve as police chief after former Chief Anthony Slifka struck a deal with trustees to leave the job. Slifka was given an option of leaving the position or being terminated.

Tisone has been a member of the township police department for 22 years and a member of law enforcement for 25 years. He was appointed to sergeant in 1994, appointed to detective/sergeant in 1998 and captain in 2004.

Tisone is originally from Youngstown. He is a graduate of Liberty High School and a 1986 graduate of Youngstown State University with a degree in law enforcement administration and business management.

Trustee Gary Litch identified three recent incidents in the police department that fueled his dissatisfaction with Slifka’s performance and led to the resignation request from trustees — an elderly woman’s death of hypothermia after officers failed to find her outside her home; the investigation of an officer accused of tracking his girlfriend via a global positioning system; and the investigation into missing funds from the township’s now-closed post office.

Tisone said he plans on a smooth transition and a continuance of those investigations until there is a resolution.

“I want to keep some continuity. I worked well with Chief Slifka and as of right now we have some issues that are being taken care of,” Tisone said. “Prior to Chief Slifka leaving, these things were initiated and we are going to see these things through.”

Township Administrator Pat Ungaro said trustees, with Tisone at the helm, can take time to look for a replacement.

“I think Rich is a talented guy. He is a Liberty resident, has been on the force a long time, and I think he will do a great job,” he said. “He is the right guy for the job right now.”

Ungaro said there is a strong possibility that Tisone could be offered the job on a permanent basis, but that will be up to trustees to decide at a later date.

Tisone said he is not sure what trustees are planning for the chief’s position, and he is unsure if he will seek the job on a permanent basis.

jgoodwin@vindy.com