Any opinion on Matt Sullivans arrest?

[dan]

"If the accused were not a state trooper, the State Police would have surely released information regarding the conduct of the arrest, especially if the the subject tried to flee. The fear is that the State Police will cover up certain facts surrounding the arrest, if there are any, and the public will never know what happened. Should they? The State Police would certainly feel they should if the subject was a civilian."

Remember what happened to that poor kid in Steuben that hit the car at the blind intersection where the barn obstructed the view. He was tried and convicted in the press as a drunk and the SP did nothing to dispel the rumors. That went on for weeks before it was cleared up. There is at least an appearance of obfuscation when they refuse to release info in this case when they helped crucify that kid.

[dgriffin]

Dan, do you remember if the OD FOILed the SP for that Steuben case?

[dan]

My gut says yes, but I could be wrong. There are many smarter people here that should be able to remember better than I.

[dan]

www.uticaod.com/news/x455213488/Fatal-Steuben-crash-Driver-did-pass-some-sobriety-tests

I stand corrected on a very important issue, the agency involved seems to be the OC Sherriffs. The article didn't say whether there was a FOIL submitted.

[dgriffin]

Dan, I also went back and looked a few articles and didn't see anything about a FOIL. They could have foiled the Sherrif's department, I suppose about the arrest particulars, or the State Police Lab that seemed to take its time furnishing the results of the tests.

[Clipper]

I could be wrong, but I always suspected that some of the delay was due to the fact that the car in which the woman was killed, was also returning from an evening out, and that possibly it was kept quiet until it could be determined that the driver of that car was not also under the influence.

I can tell you that there are issues with Matt's case that will come out in the end, or if not, I will let you know what they are when the case has been adjudicated.

[dgriffin]

For the purpose of background, a new version of the NYS FOIL became effective August 7, 2008 (Chapter 223) and modernizes the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). It clarifies several provisions, gives guidance to agencies in light of judicial findings, and all but gets rid of the "record creation problem." *
Specifically, in the area of privacy pertaining to law enforcement records, it says an agency can deny access to records that:

(e) are compiled for law enforcement purposes and which if disclosed would:
i. interfere with law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings;
ii. deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication;
iii. identify a confidential source or disclose confidential information relative to a criminal investigation; or
iv. reveal criminal investigative techniques or procedures, except routine techniques and procedures;

So, I imagine the police in most matters would cite the first item, i.

*Where an agency tells you the record you are seeking is part of a 500 page document and their only responsibility is to provide the ten pound document to you at 25 cents per page, rather than create a "new record" by making a single copy of the one page you want. The law's new provision recognizes that all data is now in electronic form and single records can provided for the cost of the media.

www.dos.state.ny.us/coog/foilnews2.html#privacy

[Clipper]

There is another article in the OD this morning about Matt Sullivan's arrest. There is a comment section attached to it, and it is filling up fast, LOL.

I just want to reiterate the fact that I was wrong in stifling comment on this forum out of panic. PLEASE feel free to post and freely express your opinions.

I am chuckling to myself about some of the comments on the OD page. There is a big deal made out of his having a Rt 28 address on a IRS form for the Irish Festival. Matt DID live on Rt 28 until just recently when he moved to Prospect. They are trying to infer that he was driving a state car when he was stopped. That is possible, but not necessarily so. He owned a black Ford Ranger for quite some time, and he almost always buys Ford cars and trucks from a small dealer in Boonville. Only time will tell if he was driving a state car.

I understand those that bring up incidents from years ago on the topix site. I would be surprised to hear of anyone that has worked somewhere for 20 years and never been admonished or disciplined, and never has made a mistake. I simply would like to see him fairly dealt with. I am sure Butch Cannon will deal with him fairly. Cannon is a justice with a reputation beyond reproach.

As far as the State Police dealing with him, I can only hope that with 19 years and 4 months on the force, they will allow him to be punished, disciplined, and admonished, suspended without pay or whatever, but allow him to receive the retirement benefits that he has worked so hard for.

For anyone to want him to forfeit those benefits is simply pompous and over zealous. Let him pay, but let him be treated as anyone else would be treated. Let him pay the max fine, or whatever, but as long as alcohol is legal, people will drink more than they should and drive. We have commercials here in Tennessee that are aimed at "Buzzed" driving, which is borderline DWI after drinking only a few drinks, but not drinking enough to feel drunk. Point zero nine is buzzed driving, not plastered falling down drunk. Cop or no cop, he waslegally drunk, and he was speeding. Yep there are most likely circumstances that may come to light. When and if there are such issues and when and if they come to light, they will be dealt with by a fair and strict judge if they are handled by Butch Cannon. Butch is noted for dealing severely and fairly, even with a "friend". When he holds court, he has no friends, but when court is adjourned he may be your neighbor or acquaintance from the local coffee shop. He takes his job VERY seriously and DWI in the town of Trenton is not something you want to be ticketed for.

As I stated before, Matt is my FORMER stepson, and I am NOT close to Matt. He has had issues in his work life, and his personal life over the years, and has been known as being cocky and arrogant, but he has always been dedicated to his job, and to following in his father's footsteps. One would have to walk a mile in his shoes to know how THEY might deal with life that has held some of the issues that have been prevalent in his.

I once again apologize for stifling comment in an unfair manner, and I encourage everyone to FREELY vent their feelings and opinions on the issue. I am not close to Matt, and anyone who has had issues with Matt, or has a negative opinion to voice, go ahead and put it out there.

I laughed my ass off when I went to "Topix" and saw a comment about my censoring the issue. A comment from a former member here at the corner. SHE was right. I AM an "obnoxious opinionated loudmouth from Clippers Corner". She should know one when she sees one, LOL. It did however make it even more evident to me, that it was an unfair thing for me to panic and threaten to use my admin ability to censor fair discussion. Once again, my sincere apology.

[Clipper]

Sheesh, the OD comment thing didn't last long. They are no longer allowing comment on todays's article. It must have went "Topix" on them, LOL.

I love their comment forum. An article about winter driving with the oncoming snowstorm turned personal and nasty in about three comments. It is simply humorous to read. Same players every day, and the same little feuds carrying on daily.

[clarencebunsen]

Clipper,

This is one of those times when I feel bad for not saying "Thank you."
You & your able administrators have attracted a community that I look forward to visiting each morning. If you get "heavy handed" once every few thousand threads, I think I can live with that.

[dan]

"Sheesh, the OD comment thing didn't last long. They are no longer allowing comment on todays's article. It must have went "Topix" on them, LOL."

The comments got pulled nanoseconds after someone posted about Andy and his minor dealings with drunk driving.

[frankcor]

Couldn't see that coming, could ya?

[Clipper]

Thanks for the kind words Clarence. I try to be fair and correct, but I still screw up now and again. Frank, Ralph, Dave, and others have been instrumental in teaching me a lot since the inception of this forum. With my overly emotional personality, and my temperament it has been a bumpy road learning to let the forum roll without prejudice when I don't agree with the opinion of others.

Frank, I chuckle when I think about the comment section in the OD. Whenever I post a comment over there, which is not very often, I wonder to myself how long the comment section will remain open for comment or for reading.

They might as well not bother to open any particular item to comment, because in a more cases than not, the comment section ends up being eliminated within a short time anyhow.

[dgriffin]

If the OD would like it, they may use my "Comments Policy."

"It is our policy to allow comments, as long as remarks submitted do not differ from our opinions, calumniate our friends and relatives, or detract from our agenda to portray the world as we see it."

While a free press is basic to democracy, it is almost always owned by someone else.

[gearofzanzibar]

Help me out here. How is this man able to wear a uniform? His record would clearly disqualify him from having any kind of security clearance.