PennWest University honored four fallen police officers and formally named its investigative and forensic sciences center for Dr. John R. Cencich during ceremonies Oct. 9 at its California campus.

“Service and Legacy: A Ceremony of Remembrance and Dedication” included a memorial bench dedication at Azorsky Field, a posthumous degree presentation honoring Officer Sean Sluganski and the naming of the John R. Cencich Center for Investigative and Forensic Sciences.

Founded by Cencich in 2008 and located in Eberly Hall, the center assists law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and defense attorneys through research and investigative expertise. Its work has included cold-case homicide research, analysis of 911 calls and assistance with racketeering and gambling investigations.

Graduate assistants contribute to research, including efforts to develop leads in unsolved cases. The center also offers recorded training with experienced investigators and former FBI criminal profilers.

“Students need the opportunity to apply what they are learning, to investigate, to collaborate, to ask difficult questions, and to develop the skills they will ultimately take into their professions and their communities,” said Dr. James Fisher, PennWest’s interim president. “That is what makes this center so important.”

Led by Director Julie Warnick, the center is supported by an endowment established by Cencich that includes scholarship opportunities and resources for students.

Cencich, a professor emeritus, served on the university’s faculty for 23 years. Previously, he was a senior American war crimes investigator with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, leading an investigative team on the case against Slobodan Milošević and his inner circle. At PennWest, he is the creator and founder of the Doctor of Criminal Justice – the first professional doctoral criminal justice degree in the United State. He also helped to create the master’s degree in applied criminology and behavioral crime analysis.

“I’m honored to have my name associated with the center,” Cencich said. “We created it to bring research, teaching and service together, helping students gain experience while assisting the law enforcement community. I look forward to seeing that work continue under Julie’s leadership.”

The memorial bench honors four members of the university community who died in the line of duty:

Memorial plaques were also presented for PennWest’s California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses. Fisher conferred Sluganski’s degree posthumously, with his mother, Terri Sluganski, accepting the diploma.

State Sen. Camera Bartolotta presented proclamations recognizing both dedications.

“A memorial bench cannot fully capture four lives or the impact these officers had on their families, fellow officers, friends, and communities,” said Tony Mauro, associate vice president for University Development and California campus administrator. “But it can give us a permanent place to remember.”