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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2009 15:30:57 GMT -5
 Bottom line is, who ever said police officers aren't human and don't make mistakes as we all have done. I am not condoning or down playing the wrong he has committed, but being an officer of the law he will have to endure more then most. I'm sure he will regret this and it will haunt him the rest of his life knowing with his actions he hurt his family, lost complete trust from those in his community and threw his career down the drain. He will pay for his actions and rightfully so, but all stated above, will be far worse then any court punishment put on him. 
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2009 15:50:33 GMT -5
Gearofzanzibar, please don't take this personally. I'm not poking fun at you, but you did give me a chuckle. I'm just in that kind of mood today.  He is no different then some of our legislators and former Presidents that we all put our trust in who have stuck it to us royally and walk away with no problems at all and with damn good pensions. To me their actions were crimes against us and put us all in some kind of jeopardy but that's okay. Where is any justice in that and why are they allowed to walk away with us still feeling the terrible results of their actions.  |
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 1, 2009 18:06:50 GMT -5
He is no different then some of our legislators and former Presidents that we all put our trust in who have stuck it to us royally and walk away with no problems at all and with damn good pensions. Trooper Sullivan is a security risk. His record of financial troubles alone would be enough to disqualify him from holding any position of trust within the federal government, and I'm surprised it hasn't disqualified him from state service. "Everyone else is just as sleazy" isn't a defense. It's an indictment. I'd be curious to hear what crimes, exactly, you feel "former Presidents" committed. I suspect the list would be a comedy goldmine. |
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Post by stoney on Mar 1, 2009 18:13:49 GMT -5
"Security Clearance"? Since when do State Police have to have a security clearance other than not having a past felony, the same as Corrections Officers? I had a friend who was looking for Security Clearance, but she worked for the U.S. government as a tech writer. She used me as a reference & I had A Homeland Security guy come to my house & ask me questions about her (I started sweating) followed by an FBI guy (I sweated even more; they're very intimidating). |
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Post by stoney on Mar 1, 2009 18:16:01 GMT -5
You're right about that, Gear. They do a credit check I'm sure, as do many employers now.
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 1, 2009 18:41:18 GMT -5
"Security Clearance"? Since when do State Police have to have a security clearance other than not having a past felony, the same as Corrections Officers? He doesn't, but the fact that he couldn't qualify for one is instructive. His record of financial difficulties and adultery is a laundry list of risk factors for corruption. At the very least he's a thief that can't be trusted. |
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Post by stoney on Mar 1, 2009 18:55:34 GMT -5
They pull something as personal as adultery in the mix, too??
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Post by denise on Mar 1, 2009 19:34:01 GMT -5
As someone who has experienced up close and personal a "law enforcement officer" get away with a plethora of crimes, I can believe what Jeffrey Fazekas says to be true. It can't and won't stop until the "law enforcement officer" is no longer covered for by their colleagues.
I always hope that karma takes over in the end.
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Post by frankcor on Mar 1, 2009 19:38:14 GMT -5
I feel bad for all the troopers who have to carry the burden of Sullivan's actions.
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 1, 2009 20:44:54 GMT -5
Frankie, I have to agree with you on that. One bad apple can attempt to spoil the whole batch, but to answer Denise's comment. It's not long before a bad cop is weeded out. The proof is in this story. Who do you think arrested Sullivan? Sure wasn't a concerned citizen. Just proves there are many good cops to the one bad. Unfair to generalize or allow the bad to tarnish the good. Not condoning at all what he did, but I'm sure Sullivan in his long career of being a cop did his share of good also. 
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 1, 2009 21:38:53 GMT -5
Gear, Idoubt Sullivan would qualify to enter a career as a police officer today for the reasons you stated. But it doesn't take much to remain a cop, based on a few I know who have similar debt and marriage problems. Regarding the OD's story. I have to ask what the hell his marriage and money difficulties have to do with his drunk driving arrest. Not morally, but logically. Were I editor, I would have demanded the reporter find a connection. I would have probably left in the Fazekas affair, even though it isn't directly related, but red penciled the debt paragraph. As it reads, the story is essentially about how Sullivan is an asshole, so he must be guilty. Not exactly stellar reporting. In my very humble opinion, of course, if I were humble. |
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Post by Clipper on Mar 1, 2009 23:22:42 GMT -5
You pretty well hit the nail on the head Dave. It takes a lot to become a trooper, but once you are in, your finances, and marital problems aren't a factor obviously. I know quite a few troopers from the period of time that I was married to Matt's mother. Most are men of integrity, but there is also a high instance of marital problems and financial problems among troopers.It goes with the territory and the stress of the job.
Matt's dad was a good trooper, and rose to a highly respected BCI investigator. I would assume that much of the reason that Matt was not sanctioned or disciplined more severely at an earlier time, was the fact that his dad was influential. Tim passed away last year.
The newspaper doesn't address the fact that Fazekas was a bum, that was alleged to be a wife beater, a drunk and dabbled in drugs. Matt didn't steal his wife, he rescued her and her kids from a trailer on the back side of Hinckley Lake. The dirtbag picked at Matt at every opportunity, and asked for what he got. That however doesn't excuse Sullivan for beating the poor slob half to death in a bar fight.
I only hope for the sake of his family that he is allowed to retire. He HAS done good things in his career, and he HAS been instrumental in getting the Irish Festival off the ground. He is very community minded. Unfortunately he sadly will only be remembered for the scandal and the bad things. He does have an estranged wife, and several children to support, and they DO deserve for him to be allowed to retire with his pension. His wife has put up with 19 years of the odd shift working hours and the life of a trooper's wife. SHE deserves to benefit from that, no matter what we believe Matt should get.
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 2, 2009 0:38:07 GMT -5
Gear, I doubt Sullivan would qualify to enter a career as a police officer today for the reasons you stated. But it doesn't take much to remain a cop, based on a few I know who have similar debt and marriage problems. I'm just amazed that this kind of behavior is allowed from a security standpoint. I was under the impression that law enforcement operated under a code of discipline similar to the military's. I think the story pretty clearly establishes a history of disregard for society's rules, which does put the allegations from the night of the arrest in a new light. There's a reason that committing adultery and siring bastards has been generally frowned upon, and I say that as the result of such a siring. Thinking with your wing-wang is one of the most glaringly obvious signs of a weak character. If you won't respect the vows of marriage, either your own or someone elses, how can you be trusted to respect any other limitations? |
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 2, 2009 0:48:36 GMT -5
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 2, 2009 9:19:42 GMT -5
I think the story pretty clearly establishes a history of disregard for society's rules, which does put the allegations from the night of the arrest in a new light. You could argue that, but to me it smells more like the OD trying to justify insinuations made in their earlier article. |
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Bottom line is, who ever said police officers aren't human and don't make mistakes as we all have done. I am not condoning or down playing the wrong he has committed, but being an officer of the law he will have to endure more then most. 
