Woman’s death brings changes for Liberty police

By John w. Goodwin jr.

Some of the recommended changes already have occurred.

LIBERTY — Trustees have decided on a list of corrective actions in the police department stemming from the tragic death of an elderly woman here last spring.

In the early-morning hours of April 28, Mary Rush, 87, of Mansell Drive, was found barely clinging to life on her front porch. She died a short time later at St. Elizabeth Health Center. It was determined that Rush had locked herself out of her home and was trying to gain entry when she became disoriented and was injured.

A neighbor who heard Rush calling out for help called police on two occasions. The handling of those two calls and subsequent police response to the scene was the subject of an investigation by the Public Safety Training and Research Center at Kent State University Trumbull Campus.

The investigation and report cost the township about $8,500.

The investigation ultimately determined that officers responded quickly to the home after both 911 calls but failed to get out of their cruisers and adequately investigate the situation.

There also were determined to be shortcomings by the 911 dispatcher on duty when the calls came in.

The investigation also listed systemic problems in the department such as insufficient training of 911 dispatchers and patrol supervisors.

Since the start of the investigation, former Police Chief Anthony Slifka left the force followed by the resignation of Dispatcher Joseph Lavaglio. Rich Tisone, a longtime captain in the department, is now the acting chief.

Trustee Jodi Stoyak said trustees have decided to send a letter of performance deficiency and corrective action to Patrolman George Bednar, who responded to the Rush calls.

Stoyak said all police department officers will now have an annual performance appraisal. She said each officer also will now get supervisory training so each officer can act in a supervisory capacity when needed.

“There will always be someone on hand trained to act as a supervisor,” she said.

Another area of training to be given to township officers is “soft skill” training for areas such as cultural sensitivity and diversity, elder care, communication, and nonviolent control tactics.

Township Administrator Pat Ungaro said a major program to emerge from the investigation is the senior watch program. Under the program, township emergency personnel collect the names of the elderly and physically challenged in the township so routine checks can be made on those individuals.

“We have a database now, and that is a direct result of this,” he said. “We are just more prepared on a neighborhood basis so that this will not happen again.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com