Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Seedersandleechers

(3,044 posts)
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 04:57 AM Dec 2011

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

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Sandusky, Penn State police chief who closed '98 sex abuse inquiry were once neighbors (Original Post) Seedersandleechers Dec 2011 OP
The net is getting pretty full Angry Dragon Dec 2011 #1
That bastard knows everyone, doesn't he? MADem Dec 2011 #2
And every child knew this too... Pachamama Dec 2011 #4
exactly n/t RainDog Dec 2011 #12
Jesus--like being molested by Santa or the Tooth Fairy--who could a kid turn to? MADem Dec 2011 #15
Exactly obamanut2012 Dec 2011 #17
State College is a VERY small town. VERY. WinkyDink Dec 2011 #6
Disgusting. gademocrat7 Dec 2011 #3
It's just trashy kids who'll never amount to anything anyway. alphafemale Dec 2011 #14
Did the police confiscate his computer(s)? When they first arrested him? rhett o rick Dec 2011 #5
These things should never remain in private hands --- defendandprotect Dec 2011 #7
Football IS a religion. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #11
Absolutely Scandalous!!! hang a left Dec 2011 #8
WTF? Were they sharing child victims or something?!? lbrtbell Dec 2011 #9
It sounds like State College is a corrupt shithole under Paterno's thumb. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #10
I think as more and more becomes public... Spazito Dec 2011 #13
This whole case has been full of this obamanut2012 Dec 2011 #16
I'm Missing Something RobinA Dec 2011 #18
You should read the link--kids played together, msanthrope Dec 2011 #19

MADem

(135,425 posts)
2. That bastard knows everyone, doesn't he?
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 08:23 AM
Dec 2011

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)
4. And every child knew this too...
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 11:27 AM
Dec 2011

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....

MADem

(135,425 posts)
15. Jesus--like being molested by Santa or the Tooth Fairy--who could a kid turn to?
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 07:33 PM
Dec 2011

You know that book everyone talks about? It needs to be thrown at that guy with great force.

 

alphafemale

(18,497 posts)
14. It's just trashy kids who'll never amount to anything anyway.
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 05:38 PM
Dec 2011

Who'd believe them?

You can't ruin the reputation of such a good man.

///sarcasm///

 

defendandprotect

(65,605 posts)
7. These things should never remain in private hands ---
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 01:56 PM
Dec 2011

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!

 

hang a left

(10,921 posts)
8. Absolutely Scandalous!!!
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 02:01 PM
Dec 2011

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.

Spazito

(49,761 posts)
13. I think as more and more becomes public...
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 05:25 PM
Dec 2011

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)
16. This whole case has been full of this
Sun Dec 11, 2011, 07:54 PM
Dec 2011

Everyone in power being friends with one another. Judges, cops, DAs, etc.

RobinA

(9,878 posts)
18. I'm Missing Something
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 05:11 PM
Dec 2011

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)
19. You should read the link--kids played together,
Mon Dec 12, 2011, 05:57 PM
Dec 2011

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

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Sandusky, Penn State poli...