SPD tells DA to go to hell

[rrlbees]

Very concerned that he is guilty and that the program is in trouble?

What SU fan wouldn't be concerned? It's worst case but it is concerning. Too many people laughing it off like anything bad is impossible. There are just too many things going on and too many moving parts/people involved to think that everything will definitely be OK.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

SPD refused to investigate in 2002 because the SofL had expired.

SU had BS&K do an independent investigation in 2005 which turned up no evidence of wrongdoing, so SU never sent a copy to the DA.

It's quite possible that Fitzy was never told of the allegations Davis made against Bernie years ago, and he got caught with his pants down (pardon the expression) when the story blew up on Thursday.

Of course, if the DA's office had been involved in 2005, Bernie would have been cleared, and this thing would have been put to rest.

 

[dash-30-dash]

where are the other victims? Theses guys never, ever stop at 1 or 2. 4 days now and no new allegations. With every passing day, that is good for fine.

 

[rrlbees]

I'm starting to get the same feeling, unfortunately. Something isn't right.

At worst, Bernie did something to these guys. I still don't know what could be done about that at this point, unfortunately, because of the SOL. I don't even know what action can be taken by the DA, unless there are charges in other states with less restrictive SOL. In that case, my first concern isn't for the SU Basketball program.

At a minimum, based on these most recent developments, it seems that there are issues with what was actually investigated in 2002-2005. I've said it a few times in the past few days, but I still think, based on the information made public in the past week, that the SPD should have opened an investigation in 2002-2003. Even if the SOL had lapsed on the molestation case against Davis, he alleged that it continued until 2000, so there was at a minimum a possible sexual assault case. At worst, there was ongoing abuse of others under 18. Should have been looked into, if for no other reason than a CYA for the SPD, and it now gives the appearance of a possible cover up.

These latest developments are not good for any of the interested parties, in perception or reality. It's a Class A Cluster****.

Well said. While I pray all will be well, something just doesn't "feel" right here.

 

[jekelish]

What SU fan wouldn't be concerned? It's worst case but it is concerning. Too many people laughing it off like anything bad is impossible. There are just too many things going on and too many moving parts/people involved to think that everything will definitely be OK.

Personally, I'm not laughing it off because I don't think it's possible. I'm laughing it off because, if there is any truth, then whatever happens will happen, and the fate of our program is out of our hands, so I'd prefer a little levity to constant handwringing.

 

[rrlbees]

where are the other victims? Theses guys never, ever stop at 1 or 2. 4 days now and no new allegations. With every passing day, that is good for fine.

I don't know if there are other victims but what makes you think the SPD doesn't have others? They said they weren't going to water drop evidence. I don't think length of time is either good or bad for Bernie. It's going to be lengthy regardless of the outcome.

 

[longislandcuse]

Just made ESPN again with this BS

 

[shandeezy7]

What SU fan wouldn't be concerned? It's worst case but it is concerning. Too many people laughing it off like anything bad is impossible. There are just too many things going on and too many moving parts/people involved to think that everything will definitely be OK.

True enough. I guess I am definitely leaning toward this all being a farce, but that doesn't mean that worst-case scenario isn't always in my mind. I just pray every day that something I believe there is no way it could be true is in fact untrue.

 

[jekelish]

Just made ESPN again with this BS

On TV? Or online? If on TV, care to recap?

 

[longislandcuse]

On TV? Or online? If on TV, care to recap?

ESPN talking about how SPD wont give records to the DA.

 

[Dadarules]

100% to do with DA & SPD relations - period. I remember in '96 I was down at the Final Four and some big Syracuse lawyers were with us at a bar and I asked something about Fitzpatrick and it was the first time I heard this old joke and it was using Fitzpatrick on the business end: What is the difference between God & Bill Fitzpatrick? God doesn't think he is Bill Fitzpatrick.

Regardless of what happens with Fine this is a sideshow between the two departments - no more, no less.

 

[rrlbees]

Personally, I'm not laughing it off because I don't think it's possible. I'm laughing it off because, if there is any truth, then whatever happens will happen, and the fate of our program is out of our hands, so I'd prefer a little levity to constant handwringing.

I can understand that. But you haven't really been part of the over the top this is all BS and these guys are just druggies looking for $$$ crowd.

 

[Upstate]

Just made ESPN again with this BS

Just about the division in judicial leadership. I hope it's just because they want to do everything correctly and not rush, rather than anything not being released for some other reason.

 

[cusetown1]

I think many people are jumping to conclusions on this, and rightfully so. Just let the dust settle, everything is going to be ok.

 

[jekelish]

I can understand that. But you haven't really been part of the over the top this is all BS and these guys are just druggies looking for $$$ crowd.

Well in a case like this with such serious allegations, I just feel like it's better to reserve judgement until all the cards are on the table. Until then, try to stay positive and have a laugh or two, because at this point it's a runaway train and it'll either go off the tracks or miraculously pull safely into the station. It's out of our hands, always has been, and always will be.

(I say that as someone who has never met Bernie; obviously folks who have are taking this much more personally so I can understand why they are fretting more than I can)

 

[HoustonCuse]

I just hope the people who posted here who had also spent a great deal of time at the Fine house in their youth and saw nothing of this sort going on have made their names clear to whomever is investigating.

 

[ForCuseSake]

But another post here suggests that the US Attorney's office may be getting involved.

What concerns me about this is whether SPD is just trying to stick it to Fitz or if they've got something and are using the Feds for stricter sentencing guidelines.

Hopefully they're playing politics & don't have any tangible evidence that would give credence to the accusers' claims and lead to criminal charges.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

ESPN talking about how SPD wont give records to the DA.

What are the records going to say? Someone came in here 9 years ago to report an alleged sex crime, and they told him to take a hike?

 

[jekelish]

Out of curiosity, is Fitz currently running for re-election? I try to avoid politics so I have no idea when elections for DA would be.

 

[Bortukal]

Out of curiosity, is Fitz currently running for re-election? I try to avoid politics so I have no idea when elections for DA would be.

He was just reelected two weeks ago. Unopposed. Sixth term.

 

[syracuse95]

I think many people are jumping to conclusions on this, and rightfully so. Just let the dust settle, everything is going to be ok.

The problem is that the dust is making national news. The dust settling won't. This isn't an issue that will be played out between the Syracuse Police Department and the Onondaga County DA on the pages of the Post-Standard. The finger pointing is now part of "the story" on ESPN, and potentially CNN, HLN, Fox, etc. The perception in the here and now is that the local officials (SPD, DA, SU) tried to cover this up.

Here are the possible endgames...

1) There's no evidence of any wrongdoing. This is a non-story, and won't really be covered at the national level. The perception of those outside the Syracuse media market will be that SU had some sketchy stuff happen and the local government helped cover it up. Bud Poliquin can be as eloquent as he's able in explaining why that's not the case. But if a tree falls in the woods and nobody's listening, does it make a sound?

OR

2) There's evidence of wrongdoing. This is a story, and will be covered heavily on the 6:00 network news on the heels of the PSU case. I don't need to explain the fallout from this one.

In the meantime, the story is "The King of Syracuse kept the police and DA from properly investigating a crime"

No good can come of this, no matter the outcome.

 

[OrangeHeel]

I don't really think the pissing match between the SPD and the DA reveals anything about this case. These two have had problems for years, and they have come to light in other high profile cases as well.

This ^^^^^^^^^^ + 1,000 squared. BF's case is not the cause, it's just the latest effect.

And as to the comment about "rushing the case to GJ", it's important to know that grand juries in NY do more than just hear "completed" cases. They also can have an investigative function irrespective of the possibility of criminal charges. Since the DA's first comment, as I recall was "statute of limitations", I suspect that absent new victims within the SOL turning up, this GJ is more geared to report writing than indicting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cusetown1]

The problem is that the dust is making national news. The dust settling won't. This isn't an issue that will be played out between the Syracuse Police Department and the Onondaga County DA on the pages of the Post-Standard. The finger pointing is now part of "the story" on ESPN, and potentially CNN, HLN, Fox, etc. The perception in the here and now is that the local officials (SPD, DA, SU) tried to cover this up.

Here are the possible endgames...

1) There's no evidence of any wrongdoing. This is a non-story, and won't really be covered at the national level. The perception of those outside the Syracuse media market will be that SU had some sketchy stuff happen and the local government helped cover it up. Bud Poliquin can be as eloquent as he's able in explaining why that's not the case. But if a tree falls in the woods and nobody's listening, does it make a sound?

OR

2) There's evidence of wrongdoing. This is a story, and will be covered heavily on the 6:00 network news on the heels of the PSU case. I don't need to explain the fallout from this one.

In the meantime, the story is "The King of Syracuse kept the police and DA from properly investigating a crime"

No good can come of this, no matter the outcome.

I do think ultimately the case ends in the media thinking it's a cover up. Which is pretty much unavoidable. What is troubling to me is the boy who cried wolf philosophy. ESPN was so quick to jump on this case but will hesitate the next time.

 

[cusetown1]

I do think ultimately the case ends in the media thinking it's a cover up. Which is pretty much unavoidable. What is troubling to me is the boy who cried wolf philosophy. ESPN was so quick to jump on this case but will hesitate the next time.

any media outlet for that matter.

 

[longislandcuse]

any media outlet for that matter.

Is this good or bad? Such a slippery slope. The police should just do their job so that when something credible comes up like a grand jury indictment, the media can report it as actual news. Since when did we start becoming dependant on news media to keep our children safe? Strange world we live in. All I know is that regardless of the outcome, the way OTL handled the Bernie Fine case is the exact opposite of how any future cases should be handled by the media.