Tisone becomes police chief at a crucial time in Liberty

When Capt. Richard Tisone began serving as acting police chief in Liberty Township seven months ago, the department was in disarray.

A “hostile and confrontational atmosphere” existed, resulting in officers staying clear of the office when then Chief Anthony Slifka was working.

That was one of the findings of an investigation of the department conducted by the Kent State University Trumbull Campus’ Public Safety Training and Research Center. The center runs the campus’ state-certified Police Training Academy.

The Liberty Police Department also had a major credibility problem stemming from the death in April of 87-year-old Mary Rush. The Kent State public safety training center found significant errors made by the 911 dispatcher, who subsequently resigned, and errors in judgment by individual officers.

Rush died of hypothermia after officers failed to find her outside her home.

There also were the issues of an officer being accused of tracking his girlfriend via a global positioning system, and missing funds from the township’s now-closed post office.

Tisone, a 23-year police veteran, has spent the past seven months restoring the department’s reputation, building moral and implementing operational changes designed to make the police force more efficient and responsive to the public’s needs.

His appointment Monday to the position of police chief was the appropriate reward from trustees for the way he has handled a difficult situation.

The one-year contract will provide Tisone with a salary of $76,453.88.

Former chiefs

The job of top cop was sought by six former police officials and police chiefs from the Youngstown area, but township Administrator Patrick J. Ungaro said Tisone’s background gave him a huge advantage.

“It’s important to understand the culture and the ins-and-outs of Liberty,” Ungaro said. “He [Tisone] lives here, so he knows.”

Being a township resident is not reason enough for trustees to promote from within the department. There is something to be said for bringing in an outsider who has no alliances or allegiances. But when there is a candidate who not only has proven himself, but has shown a willingness to make the tough decisions that might not necessarily be popular with the staff, he deserves serious consideration.

Indeed, in Liberty Township, Tisone not only will have to continue rebuilding the police department, but will also have to use his knowledge of the community in developing a force to handle the commercial growth taking place.

For instance, the opening later this year of the Wal-Mart Superstore in the Liberty Plaza will not only result in an increase in traffic, but the anticipated influx of shoppers from outside the township will put a strain on the department.

Tisone is showing initiative by creating a reserve force of part-time officers. In addition, he has boosted the efficiency of the full-time staff by training officers as supervisors and instituting performance evaluations.

There is one issue that we expect will put us at odds not only with the new chief, but other public officials in Trumbull County: The 911 emergency telephone system.

We remain firm in our belief that eight public safety answering points is seven too many and that a centralized dispatching system will be cost effective and efficient.

Tisone and his colleagues in law enforcement throughout the county should study this issue with an open mind.