Sandusky, Penn State police chief who closed '98 sex abuse inquiry were once neighbors
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. The head of Penn State University's police department who oversaw a 1998 investigation of possible sexual abuse by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky once lived three houses down from the defensive coordinator, property records show.
Chief Thomas Harmon took over leading the department just one month before a detective began looking into whether the chief's former neighbor sexually abused two 11-year-old boys in a campus shower. Harmon later ordered the case closed when the Centre County, Pa., district attorney decided not to file criminal charges.
Sandusky retired from Penn State a year later.
The personal connection between the chief and the architect of "Linebacker U" now has lawyers for Sandusky's alleged victims questioning what role those ties may have played in closing the 1998 investigation, which they argue was a missed opportunity to stop Sandusky from assaulting more children.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/12/10/132730/sandusky-penn-state-police-chief.html#ixzz1gDNBUbwR
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)He knew the first judge, who gave him the crazy-cheap bail, too! She was on his little Rope-em-In Foundation.
I wonder what's on Chief Let-im-go's hard drive?
I think children aren't safe in that guy's neighborhood!
Pachamama
(16,874 posts)I just imagine every child being terrified to talk to anyone because they knew this guy was so connected and "liked" and also by default powerful....
A kid whose single mom is struggling and comes from nowhere might have felt even more alone in those kind of circumstances....
RainDog
(28,784 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)You know that book everyone talks about? It needs to be thrown at that guy with great force.
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)Those poor children.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)gademocrat7
(10,623 posts)No regard for the welfare of children who were abused.
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Who'd believe them?
You can't ruin the reputation of such a good man.
///sarcasm///
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)That's what they do for most.
defendandprotect
(65,605 posts)even a university police department --
And it seems that "sports" can be as much of a cover as the "priesthood" -- !!
What an honor to have someone so golden living in your neighborhood!
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)hang a left
(10,921 posts)I think by the time we know everything, there will be a lot of other people will be facing charges and ruined reputations and careers. At least I hope so.
lbrtbell
(2,389 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Spazito
(49,761 posts)we are going to see how much the connections between Sandusky and other high profile people may have contributed to what amounts, imo, to a major cover-up for 10 years. I hope that is what happens anyway, it certainly should.
obamanut2012
(25,911 posts)Everyone in power being friends with one another. Judges, cops, DAs, etc.
RobinA
(9,878 posts)Where does it say the two even knew each other? I wouldn't know the guy who lives three doors down or up from me if I tripped over him. The guy across and up three doors I would gladly arrest. From my experience with my friends who have close neighbors, they are just as likely to hate each others guts as to cut them big breaks. The whole thing sounds like nothing until some connection is made.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)same Church, lived in same cul-de-sac, Harmon was head cop at Penn State.
Think they didn't know each other?
"Schreffler testified that his boss, then-campus police chief Thomas Harmon, told him to close his investigation, and the county prosecutor decided there would be no charges, for reasons that remain unknown today. Harmon served as an administrator under Gary Schultz, then Penn State's senior vice president for finance and business.
Schultz has been charged in relation to a 2002 sexual abuse complaint against Sandusky. In grand jury testimony, Schultz said he was aware of the 1998 complaint investigated by his police department but never asked to see the investigative report and didn't realize how lengthy it was."
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/16424864/penn-state-culture-explained-away-sandusky