Any opinion on Matt Sullivans arrest?

[Clipper]

Well Swimmy, maybe ya need to go back and read my retraction. Even DONNA is allowed to print a retraction, haha. I DID panic, and over react. I also received a lot of supporting emails and PM's and as I said, I had only just finished reading about it myself, when it hit the forum. I had visions of it becoming a really nasty slam fest, even on THIS forum. Sorry to offend ya or insult ya.

I am disgusted by the print that is being given to this issue in the OD. I guess that is what happens in a city where there is no news to report other than the everyday drug busts and car wrecks. They don't give any prints space to LEGITIMATE politics or to REAL news unless it benefits THEIR agenda.

Matt did the deed, and Matt will have to suffer the consequences. I can only hope that he is not OVER prosecuted because of his status as a state trooper. He is a first time offender, and many, like Andrew Donovan have BOUGHT there way out of second and third offenses with little consequence. The Donovan kid got away with a fine and a wrist slap, and he damn near ran over an old man that was getting out of his car. Oh well. Time will tell. I just hate to see that hypocrite Donna Donovan making a media circus out of Matt's arrest. She is a pompous ass of first class proportion.

[Swimmy]

I read your retraction after I posted my response. Sorry about that.

I take everything the disgrace publishes with a grain of salt, ESPECIALLY where they take the "holier than thou art" road on DWI-related news. There is no reason for dragging into the situation that he is a director or what have you of the Irish fest. It does nothing to enhance or imply his guilt or propensity to drive drunk. That whole spew is merely wholesale racism on the entire Irish population, of which I am apart.

[Clipper]

Donna and Jerome are no strangers to a coctail glass either, LOL.

[dgriffin]

Although the offense may be the same, for some we feel sorry, for others we don't.
A few aspects of the case appear fairly strange, so commenting at this stage seems premature.
Except to say we'd probably all agree that cops and civilians should be treated alike, although it's no surprise a cop's arrest is going to have more "news interest" than the rest of us.
And the story is developing an angle of Police Non Cooperation, whether that has any basis. Already, a FOIL has been filed. But differing versions of an event is not all that unusual in any case.

[Clipper]

I am sure the details of his arrest will eventually become public. There is an internal investigation being conducted. He deserves that, as does the public. He also deserves his day in court, and to be deemed innocent until pronounced guilty by the judge.

He said, she said, is another famous reporting tool of the Observer Disgrace. They cover their asses normally by using the word "alleged" preceding any dirt that they wish to publish, but you never see the "alleged" dirt retracted after it is adjudicated, unless it is in favor of the OD's views and agenda.

I guess we will ride it out, and see how much more press a cop can get compared to a spoiled kid of a hypocritical publisher. I am glad I am able to read the OD on line, because if I had to pay for that "birdcage liner" I would never do it, and that from a former employee.

[frankcor]

You can tell everyone you read it here first:

My prediction: Matt will resign his job with the State Police. District Attorney McNamara will declare that the resignation satisfies his investigation and no charges will be brought.

[dan]

Hey Clip, no offense taken on my part, I was just concerned I'd crossed a line.

[Swimmy]

Frankcor, based on past patterns of behavior, i have to agree with that prediction.

[Swimmy]

Feb 10, 2009 12:41:17 GMT -5 Clipper said:

Donna and Jerome are no strangers to a coctail glass either, LOL.

I have heard rumors that Jerome is known as the village drunk. I don't know the guy, but that's what I have been told.

[bobbbiez]

Clipper, ya old fart, you're quite welcome. No problem. That's what friends are for.

Glad you had a much better day.

[hans]

Wow, WKTV still carrying the story, gee Fr. Krul only got two days in the OD.

[Clipper]

The publicity given Father Krul was disgusting. The publicity given to Matt is normal in the case of a police officer, but the objection that I have is that they keep bringing up the Irish Festival, of which he is president. It has nothing to do with that great event, other than that he was one of the originators and is very active in it's promotion. His bad judgment doesn't need to be casting a dark cloud over the festival with the negative press afforded Sullivan's case.

The reason for all the ongoing press and media coverage is the "ongoing investigation" by the state police. It IS a personnel issue, and when it is resolved and the court case has been adjudicated, I am sure it will be a '"Paul Harvey" moment, and we will all know "the rest of the story".

The FOIL requests and such that are being spoken of, are just part sensationalizing the case. The media KNOWS that during an ongoing personnel issue and ongoing fact finding, the agency is not going to comment while legal issues are still being addressed.

The FOIL business is strictly being used to make the State Police look bad, or to insinuate that they are covering for their own. When they are through investigating, I am sure the results will hit the news WITHOUT a foil being needed. A press release will surely be put out.

[wcup102]

That's the extent of their "investigative reporting" is filing a FOIL. Like you said Clipper, they are hypocritical, and I'll add biased and a rag sheet. They are no different than that Topix site where anyone can trash anyone. I hope what goes around truly comes around with that paper.

[dgriffin]

Feb 12, 2009 10:42:51 GMT -5 Clipper said:

The FOIL business is strictly being used to make the State Police look bad, or to insinuate that they are covering for their own. When they are through investigating, I am sure the results will hit the news WITHOUT a foil being needed. A press release will surely be put out. .

I'll disagree. Although the FOIL request adds to the drama, I don't think that is the primary purpose. The OD feels that information about the arrest is public and has asked for access to it. They may be right or wrong, but it is the public's right to request the information.

The government has to show more harm would result in releasing the information. It is not legitimate for the government or agency to refuse information to the public so that they can manage the news. There is no such thing as private government information (that I've heard of) except where release of it interferes with government's legitimate activity.

I am often critical of the news media, but the fact is they do often exercise the public's right to seek information. They always assume the public wants to know. If folks don't want to know, they should write the newspaper and say so.

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.

[dgriffin]

Feb 10, 2009 20:58:27 GMT -5 Swimmy said:

Feb 10, 2009 12:41:17 GMT -5 Clipper said:

Donna and Jerome are no strangers to a coctail glass either, LOL.

I have heard rumors that Jerome is known as the village drunk. I don't know the guy, but that's what I have been told.

I've been thinking about this post for a couple of days.
Swimmy, I love ya, but I think that is uncalled for on this forum.