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Post by dgriffin on Mar 2, 2009 9:55:24 GMT -5
Frankly, regarding this incident, my interest lies in the news reporting, not in Sullivan. Courtney Potts has done a good job of swaying me to the conclusion he's a louse.
The trouble with this story is it's mostly based on "he said/he said." Fazekas has had NO success either in criminal or civil courts with his charges. Now, I ask you. If someone beat you to a bloody pulp outside a bar or restaurant one night, with even reluctant witnesses about, wouldn't you think you could get SOME degree of action IF your story was true?
Sure, the cops are going to be reluctant to investigate one of their own, but they can't ignore a hospital report indicating such extensive injuries. And by the way, the fraternity can be very cooperative when they would like to dump one of their own for going beyond the pale too often.
Here's the only story worthy of facts dug up by Ms. Potts.
"We did a little research and discovered Sullivan has welched on a couple of debts. Also, we interviewed a man who says the Trooper beat him senseless one night outside a bar, but the alleged victim has been unable to gain the cooperation of witnesses, and the charges have not been sustained in any court of law."
Oh... Fazekas is supported by his attorney. Oh... and his attorney is Leon Koziol, about whom I'd rather hear how his $11 million suit against BookSurge is going.
Philandering, brawling and running out on debts may go to Sullivan's character in a court of law, but unless the OD is trying the Trooper in their newspaper pages ... and it appears so ... the reporting of this information is questionable and will only besmirch the reputation of a man yet to be convicted of any crime. And in a case where information is (rightly or wrongly) has yet to be released. Whether Trooper Sullivan deserves such is not the OD's decision to make.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 2, 2009 12:21:59 GMT -5
I have to think Dave that much of the latest digging for news is because the state police have not honored the FOIL request. Sullivan's credit problems are in no way connected, although they do reflect badly on his character, which obviously is not without defect. I guess he didn't make any friends at the OD along the line, LOL. Six grand in credit card debt is peanuts compared to what many people have on the books now a days, but the judgments really must have brought some sort of sanctions from the State Police. I bet there are plenty of drunks out there that he has arrested that are sitting back with a smug grin, watching this all unfold, and watching his life go down the toilet. Just a prime example of how one in the public eye must stay squeaky clean. One never knows when that which goes around will come around.
OD readers were so indignant about the lack of coverage of Andy Donovan's story, that Donna is simply making sure that any other poor SOB that gets a DWI is going to be front page news. Having a COP to smear must have sent her into mulitiple orgasms right at her desk. LOL
I think that the State Police are NOT covering up for Matt. I would think just the opposite. I imagine that a real in depth investigation is being made to see just how severely they can punish him. They probably are looking at the effects that would cascade and ripple from the disciplinary actions, and what it would do to the future of his children. He HAS earned a retirement, and there ARE other ways to deal with him, without taking that away. He is a young man, and I am sure he had no immediate plans to retire. Simply firing him would be a serious blow to his ego, his career path, and any future in law enforcement. The firing and the shame of being ejected from the circle of respected officers would be like putting a scarlet letter on his chest.
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 2, 2009 13:58:00 GMT -5
The trouble with this story is it's mostly based on "he said/he said." Fazekas has had NO success either in criminal or civil courts with his charges. Now, I ask you. If someone beat you to a bloody pulp outside a bar or restaurant one night, with even reluctant witnesses about, wouldn't you think you could get SOME degree of action IF your story was true? Oh, I totally agree. There's something dodgy there for sure. |
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 2, 2009 14:21:16 GMT -5
I have to think Dave that much of the latest digging for news is because the state police have not honored the FOIL request. Sullivan's credit problems are in no way connected, although they do reflect badly on his character, which obviously is not without defect. I guess he didn't make any friends at the OD along the line, LOL. Six grand in credit card debt is peanuts compared to what many people have on the books now a days, but the judgments really must have brought some sort of sanctions from the State Police. I bet there are plenty of drunks out there that he has arrested that are sitting back with a smug grin, watching this all unfold, and watching his life go down the toilet. Just a prime example of how one in the public eye must stay squeaky clean. One never knows when that which goes around will come around. I want to touch on that a bit, if you don't mind. I know I'm probably coming across as someone who hates Sullivan, but quite the opposite is the case. I've met him several times in the past and, in the interest of full disclosure, been a VIP guest at the Irish Festival with tickets and passes provided by the committee. That said, the reason I'm judging him so harshly is because of the old saw that with great power comes great responsibility. Any law enforcement officer has an incredible amount of power to impact people's lives in both a positive and a negative way. The only way to keep that power under control is to rigorously insist on the highest standards of ethical behavior. I have nothing against Sullivan personally, but his conduct is simply inexcusable. Yeah, lots of people steal money by defrauding their creditors. So what? It's still theft. It's bad enough that he can't be trusted in that regard, but it's even worse because of the power he wields. It doesn't take a college degree in ethics to understand why a cop with money problems is a recipe for disaster. If the rumors about what happened the night he was arrested are true he not only needs to be fired, but brought up on a lot more than DWI charges. His wife, family, career, and pension status are his problem, not mine. |
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Post by lefty on Mar 2, 2009 14:23:22 GMT -5
When I was finished reading the Fezeka account about the incident something didn't sound quite right. First it was a one sided story, and second the law suit was dismissed. I think that if it was true he would have went to another agency with his alleged brutal beating, second he could have spoke with the District Attorney's Office . Why would he have gone to the same agency in which his alleged attacker was employed, he could have called the OC Sheriff, or D.A.
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Post by denise on Mar 2, 2009 14:27:47 GMT -5
The trouble with this story is it's mostly based on "he said/he said." Fazekas has had NO success either in criminal or civil courts with his charges. Now, I ask you. If someone beat you to a bloody pulp outside a bar or restaurant one night, with even reluctant witnesses about, wouldn't you think you could get SOME degree of action IF your story was true? Oh, I totally agree. There's something dodgy there for sure. No. As long as you are able to have some pull the right strings, you can make any charge or accusation go away. Here is a short list of things I have known a person to get away with because of who they know: Verbal harassment (several incidents, one caught on tape) Property Damage (several incidents) Theft of personal property (several incidents including rural mail box with the mail in it Indecent exposure I am sure that there is probably more, but it has been a few years and now that we are now removed from the situation I remember less and less. |
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 2, 2009 14:42:15 GMT -5
Denise. Agreed. Except that the case of a person beat to a point of unconsciousness would in severity be far beyond the examples you gave.
Oh, well. We really don't know what happened. But here we are serving as an example of the public's thirst for answers that the newspaper is happy to quench. Trouble is, they don't have anything in their pop bottle.
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Post by Clipper on Mar 2, 2009 16:31:55 GMT -5
Well Gear, thank goodness you are a little gear in a big machine, but not the machine that will be processing Sullivan's case in the courts. I am not defending him against punishment by the law, for the laws he allegedly broke the night he was arrested. I simply separate the disciplinary action to be taken by the State Police from the punishment he should face under the law for the infractions he is charged with.
To not care about his pension, his family, and his career is painting with a pretty wide brush. His career IS over, no doubt. He deserves to be tried in the courts for his actions, and punished without impunity for those crimes or actions.
I just find it pretty damned high and mighty to wish little girls, and a wife, to be punished further for his indescretions. I can condone any sort of criminal charges for Matt, but to punish his family and THEIR future, by taking his pension would be cruel. Believe me,
His credit card judgments are NOT excusable, just that the OD is overblowing the magnitude and digging for dirt that has nothing to do with anything but a smear campaign by the OD. It is simply irrelevant to this case.
I have to imagine that one of the reasons for the investigation taking so long is that they are composing a whole laundry list of charges that occurred the night of his arrest, with speeding and DWI being only the beginning. His alleged fleeing an eluding are most likely of a felony nature, if that is proven in court to be a sustainable charge.
I would predict that when it all comes to a head, and is tried in the courts, the State Police are going to throw him to the wolves, and the judge is going to go hard enough to dispell any impression of showing favoritism or slack.
He deserves to pay, not his family. Being a cops wife is much like being a military wife. She deserves his pension benefits for the 19 years that she has lived that life, and if his rights are vested, he should not have it taken either. He can be made to pay in many different ways. I am sure he is paying every day in the embarassment and shame of having his personal life aired in the OD and on television. This isn't something that he will be able to put behind him by paying a fine and losing his drivers license for 6 months. This is the image that people will think of when they hear the name from here on out.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 2, 2009 17:09:40 GMT -5
I have to imagine that one of the reasons for the investigation taking so long is that they are composing a whole laundry list of charges that occurred the night of his arrest, with speeding and DWI being only the beginning. Or they're dealing. The SP and the DA and Sullivan's attorney might be working up an agreement. After all, the entire evidence must be on the table at this point. Would be interesting to speculate who holds which cards? The DA can offer a no-bill. The SP can offer a pension. What does Sullivan have to offer? It may be we'll never know. One thing for sure, he would have something. The DA and SP are not sitting around trying to figure out how to do well by the guy. |
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Post by Clipper on Mar 2, 2009 18:41:28 GMT -5
No, I am sure that the DA and the SP are NOT sitting around how to "do well by the guy". More than likely trying to figure out how to get maximum punishment, while still being fair. Gotta think that life really sucks for him right now. They may be considering such factors as the impact on his family, while insuring that he pays the maximum price for his misdeeds.
When all is out in the open, and the case is decided, I am sure that the OD will get what they can. That will be interesting to see how they report it.
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Post by gearofzanzibar on Mar 2, 2009 20:07:15 GMT -5
I just find it pretty damned high and mighty to wish little girls, and a wife, to be punished further for his indescretions. I can condone any sort of criminal charges for Matt, but to punish his family and THEIR future, by taking his pension would be cruel. Believe me, I find it a bit high and mighty for you to set up a straw man (You want to punish the cute little girls you heartless bastard! Think of the children!) when I've said nothing of the sort. The cuteness of Sullivan's children and the depth of his wife's love for him have absolutely nothing to do with his professional ethics, or lack thereof. Look, I know you have some skin in this game and that you're by nature an empathic person, but excusing criminal misconduct because it might have some vague impact on a criminal's family is a fool's errand. My offspring are cute and my wife has put up with my weird hours, too. So what? Rest assured that if I led police on a high-speed drunken car chase and then barricaded myself in my gun-filled home I'd still be behind bars. 'Cause, you know, that's how the law deals with regular citizens. Surely you're not suggesting that we should reward the man for a psychotic rampage with a lifetime tax-free income and perpetual healthcare? |
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Post by bobbbiez on Mar 2, 2009 20:17:17 GMT -5
 Why would his pension and etc come into the picture? Whether he quit, retired or got fired he still has x amount of years he put in on the job to put into his benefits. Can't see why that would be affected. 
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Post by Clipper on Mar 2, 2009 23:31:57 GMT -5
Well Gear, I could possibly have interpreted your words out of context, but I take it when you say his pension, his family, and his career are not your problem. I didn't intend to paint you as a "heartless bastard", just that you are taking a stand that doesn't take into account that his wife and kids weren't charged with any crimes, and the man was simply drunk and has not been labeled as psychotic. He drove away from the traffic stop and drove home and locked himself in the house, according to sources. He only blew a .09 on the breathalyzer, so it is doubtful that he was falling down drunk, and it has not been said that it was a highspeed chase, just that he would not stop. He is guilty of many charges. He supposedly "bumped chests" with a trooper, was extremely uncooperative, and went home and locked the doors. As for a house full of guns, once again was he just arrogant and refusing to cooperate, or was he "psychotic"? That has not been proved or even insinuated by anyone in a position to judge. I would have been more worried about him hurting himself at that point than anyone else. People seem to make it into a situation where they want to picture him as a madman sitting in his window with a machine gun trained on the troopers. I don't think he had the furniture piled against the doors and a dozen guns loaded and ready for a firefight. Come on, give me a break.
Knowing Matt, I would be more willing to say that it came down to a pissing contest with the poor trooper that stopped him, and he simply arrogantly told him "screw you, I am going home, and when you can get someone with more authority to come and talk to me we can discuss it". I am sure if he threatened to shoot anyone, it would have ended differently. They would have brought in swat or teargassed him out of the house.
I don't care if he is screwing the governor's wife, and writing bad checks to pay for the motel. That is irrelevant to the case. He got drunk. He disobeyed the order of the arresting officer, he "fled" and he refused to come out of his house. It is my understanding that a State Police Major was called to the scene from quite a ways away, and that is what took so long and extended the time that he was in the house, refusing to come out.
Those charges are the basis to charge him with who knows how many more infractions of the law. Those charges are good reason to fine him, fire him, jail him, take away his right to carry a gun, or whatever the law allows. His pension rights are not something that someone should lose because he got drunk and locked himself in his house.
Everyone seems determined to sensationalize the case. I am sorry if I offended you Gear. I respect you and don't mean to offend you, in using the phrase under your avatar in the post. That was not my intent. As for the cute little girls, etc. I still believe that his offenses should be dealt with just as they would be if he were not a cop. If I were to do the same thing, should they be able to take a way my federal civil service pension, just because I once held a security clearance, and I locked myself in my house until my blood alcohol came down? I worked well over 20 years for the pension. I don't feel that it should be considered in dealing out punishment for driving drunk, even if I were a federal marshal or whatever.
Hell, don't you think it might be just as effective to punish him with jail, or prolonged house arrest with an ankle bracelet, or fine him the maximum fine and take his license for the maximum time allowed for a first offense? Firing a man that is only in his forties, is quite a punishment in itself. His days in criminal investigation and law enforcement are over. He has to find some menial task to provide for his bread and butter for another 15 years or so before he will be of an age where he is going to WANT to retire. You say you have dealt with Matt in the past and know him. Well would you not agree that taking his badge and firing him will injure his pride and his ego beyond anything else that they could do to him?
I understand the indignation of the general public, and especially of those that he may have arrested, but I don't condone the trying him in the press and the idea that some people seem to think that taking him out and shooting him would not be harsh enough of a punishment for his offenses. Every story I read, is fueled with a little more sensationalizing of the facts, and a little more insinuation from the OD. It may sell papers, but it is ridiculous and typical OD.
I think that credit is due to the troopers that were on the scene, and to the major that got him to leave the house and surrender. I don't think it ever came to a TV like drama with armed cops laying across their fenders with high powered sniper rifles, or anyone threatening to kill anyone. No flash bang grenades, not tear gas, no snipers on the neighbor's roof. Just a situation that required the big boss coming to the scene to defuse it.
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 3, 2009 0:12:30 GMT -5
I think Gear is right. A hundred cute little girls shouldn't make any difference to the law, and one or more loving wives has never affected the prosecution of an offender. But I think you're right too, Clip. Gear is a heartless bastard. |
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Post by Clipper on Mar 3, 2009 0:44:08 GMT -5
LOL. Are you stirring the pot again David??  I didn't mean to insult Gear or infer that he was a "heartless bastard" LOL. Just think that the sensationalization of this case is getting ridiculous with every new post in the OD. The personnel issue is entirely different from the criminal case, and should remain that way. Taking his badge, gun, career and a shitload of money in fines and legal fees will suffice, without worrying about his pension. He earned that long before he decided to get drunk and get into a pissing contest with the arresting officer. I mean damn, does the OD need to paint the picture of Sullivan barricaded in his home with the furniture piled against the doors, lobbing hand grenades out the attic window at police, as they hunker down behind their squad cars with sniper rifles cocked and loaded? He drove away from a traffic stop and went home and locked the doors, presumably to waste time before taking the breathalizer, and to make someone of higher authority come to the scene to orchestrate his arrest. I don't think anyone was in danger except possibly Sullivan himself. I think I would have seen all the flashing lights in the driveway, decided that I had REALLY screwed up, and possible shot MYSELF, not someone else. He may be arrogant, but he is not stupid enough to threaten to shoot anyone, or to elevate the already crappy situation to a higher level and accumulate any more charges than he already had managed to gather. Just to clarify, the OD would like you to envision the Branch Davidian Compound with armed people in all the windows, and tanks lined up in the road. Sullivan simply went in his house and refused to come out, and communicated by cell phone with those outside. The house was surrounded to prevent him from going out the back door and going anywhere else. I don't think swat and snipers were on the rooftops of the neighbor's houses waiting to shoot him in the head for a DWI. |
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Why would his pension and etc come into the picture? Whether he quit, retired or got fired he still has x amount of years he put in on the job to put into his benefits. Can't see why that would be affected. 
I didn't mean to insult Gear or infer that he was a "heartless bastard" LOL. Just think that the sensationalization of this case is getting ridiculous with every new post in the OD. The personnel issue is entirely different from the criminal case, and should remain that way. Taking his badge, gun, career and a shitload of money in fines and legal fees will suffice, without worrying about his pension. He earned that long before he decided to get drunk and get into a pissing contest with the arresting officer.