Former Johnstown police officer who overdosed in police headquarters arraigned
JOHNSTOWN – The Johnstown police officer who overdosed more than 11 months ago inside police headquarters was arraigned Thursday morning.
William Scott Slisz, 34, of the 200 block of Ligonier Pike, Johnstown, waived his charges to court after being arraigned by District Magistrate Michael Muslin.
He faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, burglary, criminal trespassing/breaking into a structure.
Slisz, who faces six felony and three misdemeanor charges overall, was released on his own recognizance.
Attorney Art McQuillan said Slisz cooperated with state police “and accepted responsibility” for his actions.
“With God’s help, and the support of his family and friends, he intends on facing and overcoming the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation,” McQuillan said.
McQuillan said Slisz previously tendered his resignation to the Johnstown Police Department after eight years on the force.
In court documents, Slisz admitted to taking heroin.
Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan, the sister of Art McQuillan, released details of her investigation Thursday regarding Slisz.
"The process was time consuming, but imperative to the process of whether any other cases were impacted by the actions of Officer Slisz," Callihan summarized.
Callihan said discrepancies were identified in 16 police investigations involving Slisz from 2013 to 2016. During that period, investigators found that more than 1,000 stamp bags of heroin went missing.
Callihan previously said Slisz “was found by another officer unconscious inside the roll call room in the Johnstown Police Department.”
She said Slisz, who was on duty, was revived using Narcan and was taken to the hospital after he regained consciousness. Narcan is a drug used to reverse overdoses of heroin and other opioids.
Callihan said that there was a hammer laying beside Slisz and a hole in the wall.
"No one would have ever suspected that an officer would go up through the ceiling tiles to go into the sergeant's office to get that fob to get access," said Dennis McGlynn, attorney for former chief Craig Foust.
Foust was put on administrative leave in September after Slisz' overdose.
Foust retired in the winter.
"Since then, he felt that his reputation, which was untarnished for over three decades as a police officer, was hurt when the statement was made that he was placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation," said McGlynn.
Johnstown Police Chief Bob Johnson, who replaced longtime chief Craig Foust, also issued a statement.
"The arrest of Mr. Slisz illustrates the extent to which opioid addiction is crippling this region and this country as a whole. Each and every day opioids claim another victim whether it be a fatal overdose or another first time user."What makes Mr. Slisz different is he was a member of the law enforcement community. His violation of the public trust is inexcusable as it casts a heavy shadow on all law enforcement not only the members of the Johnstown Police Department."While he finds anonymity in his current endeavors; the men and women of the Johnstown Police Department regrettably wear his shame as they work tirelessly day in and day out to put this matter behind them."ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfm7yzucSrZKOnmKPAtbvWp2Spp5yesKZ5zp%2BdopuVp3q4tM5mpq%2Bdopm8tLHDZqCnZaCkuaqvxGafnpmUpsKivtOeqaxlkae%2ForXGp5yd