Veteran city cop tabbed as assistant chief

Sgt. Tom Liscinski has been named Meadville’s new assistant police chief.

A 26-year veteran of the force, Liscinski had been a sergeant since 1993.

Police Chief Dave Stefanucci said he named Liscinski assistant chief because of his performance. “He’s consistently displayed qualities of knowledge, initiative, dependability and leadership,” Stefanucci said. “I personally believe he’ll be an asset to the city of Meadville as an assistant chief.”

Liscinski, 49, said he was honored to be named assistant chief and looks forward to getting acclimated in his new role.

As assistant chief, he will be in charge of scheduling, taking care of the evidence room and day-to-day operations assigned by Stefanucci.

“I want to maintain that level of service to the citizens that they’ve been accustomed to and improve it as well,” he said. “I think with my 26 years of experience, I’m able to communicate with my peers and the citizens.”

“You look at it at a different perspective at this level,” Liscinski said of being involved in management of the department which includes budget and manpower issues.

He said he would like to be chief some day.

Liscinski was appointed to the force Feb. 6, 1980, when he was 23. He was promoted to corporal June 13, 1993, and to shift sergeant Oct. 24, 1999.

He received an American Police Hall of Fame Legion of Honor Award after being injured in the line of duty. In April 1992, his calf was pinned between a cruiser door and door jamb when a suspect’s car rolled into the cruiser.

He replaces Stefanucci, who had been assistant chief since January 2002. Stefanucci was acting chief of the department for three months before being named chief in November, replacing Dave Acker, who had retired.

Now the department will have civil service testing to name a new sergeant. Then, the officer promoted must be replaced and a new officer will be hired once the promotions shake out.