Officer Gary Vidovich is arrested

[KC]

TARENTUM, Pa. -- Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman said in her news conference that Sgt. Gary S. Vidovich, 56, has been suspended wihout pay pending an internal investigation. The veteran police officer could face further department discipline after being arrested on Thursday in connection with illegally obtaining the drug, Oxycodone, under false pretenses.

Officer Gary Vidovich, 55, of Tarentum, was arraigned Thursday on 28 counts of illegally obtaining painkillers from August 2005 to September 2006.

Vidovich is an officer with the Wilkinsburg Police Department.

Channel 11 was at the hearing Thursday morning. Vidovich had no comment.

Channel 11 contacted the Wilkinsburg Police Department and a representative said the department is investigating.

There is no word on Vidovich’s current status with the department.

The arrest was part of an undercover sting operation conducted by the state attorney general’s office.

www.wpxi.com/news/10845283/detail.html

[WaTcHeR]

Second Wilkinsburg Officer Arrested In Week's Time

01.31.2007 - WILKINSBURG There's more trouble for the already-troubled Wilkinsburg Police Department.

For the second time in less than a week, an officer has been arrested.

Wilkinsburg police officer Gary Vidovich was arrested last week, taken right out of the police academy.

He's been charged with 28 counts of illegally obtaining Oxycodone.

Agents believe Officer Vidovich was using drugs to self-medicate.

He is currently suspended without pay.

Meanwhile, another Wilkinsburg officer has been arrested -- this time by Penn Hills Police.

Investigators say Wilkinsburg Officer Daniel Cienkowski, who has been on the force since July, was arrested late Monday night after leading Penn Hills Police on a high speed chase before crashing.

Police say Cienkowski then took off on foot and police had to use dogs to track him down and arrest him.

He too is suspended without pay.

Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman spoke with KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin after the arrest of a second officer in less than a week.

Coleman says she's deeply concerned and very worried about what breeds this within her department.

She intends on enforcing rules and regulations and trying to regain the public trust.

kdka.com/topstories/local_story_030223756.html