Ex-North Huntingdon, Irwin officer named Elizabeth Borough police chief

A former North Huntingdon police officer has been named police chief in Elizabeth Borough.

William Sombo took over duties of police chief Monday after being appointed to the position by borough officials last week. He has worked as a part-time officer in Elizabeth for several years, borough Secretary Pamela Sharp said.

Sombo could not be reached for comment.

Sharp said Sombo’s salary had not been set.

Elizabeth’s former chief, Timothy Butler, resigned in December. He was facing felony counts of theft by unlawful taking and theft by failure to make required deposits and misdemeanor counts of drug possession and obstruction of justice.

Prior to resigning, Butler, 42, had been placed on administrative leave because of reported suspicious behavior with a man suspected of heroin possession. Butler is scheduled to be arraigned in Allegheny County on May 7.

Sombo has also worked as a part-time officer with the Irwin police department since being hired in June.

Irwin Police Chief Roger Pivirotto said Sombo has indicated he will continue to work part-time in Irwin, but likely will not work as many hours in Irwin because of his new job.

Sombo had been a North Huntingdon police officer for about 30 years when township commissioners fired him in April 2014 after former chief Andrew Lisiecki complained an officer, whom he did not name, undermined his authority and was causing dissension within the department.