Wellsville Council and the mayor released the police investigation report last night. Since reading both news paper accounts this morning there is still one dominant thought coming to mind - WOW! This is not good. I read and reread both reports. I've long suspected that Scarabino and Wilson had issues with each other. This goes way back when they were both just officers and over the years I've neither seen nor heard anything to change my opinion. Now we have outsiders from Cleveland come in, look around and pick up on it in just a few weeks... The report is not quite what we were lead to believe, was it? It's not what the Wilson supporters lead us to believe. It is not what Dinch lead us to believe. I think I'm beginning to understand what Ms. Gross meant when she was quoted as saying "reading is fundamental" at the Dinch press conference.
If you don't have print copies the reports are available in the on-line editions of both the Review and the MJ. Although neither Jeremy Lydic or Erin Colella made any mention of it there is clearly an overtone of failure to perform in the chain of command at the WPD from that report. No matter who is mayor, after the provisional ballots are either validated or disqualified, they most certainly have a hand full dealing with the WPD situation. They will most definitely have to research to see what can be done and have a plan of correction in place to work with.
Andy Beech will probably have to go to the books on this one. I'm just wondering if that chain of command is salvageable. What do you think? I got a mix of emotions on this issue. They range from dread, to disappointment & betrayal and to being seriously mad.
This is not good.
ole nib
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Some people seem to think tht the riff between the chief and Wilson goes back to the Roberts murder.
Seems odd that they released that report AFTER the election. Almost like they wanted to hide it until then.
I bet we don't see a lot of comments from joe's boys on this issue
Are you for real that what you read actually made you think that? For God's sake ole man, did you sniff too much napalm? What it made me think is that the Joe's are more screwed up than I thought last week. I cannot believe you don't have the balls to say how low and disgusting it was to wait until after the election for all this to come out. The people of wellsville deserved to know this before the election. It's ridiculous. You and the people on this blog bad mouth the other blog (you know, Satan himself?) but you're just as bad. Your two blogs are the Hannity and Colmes of the tri-state area. For all the names and mudslinging your side does, you deserve just as much bad mouthing. Shame on you ole timer. Take the blinders off, you might walk into a busy intersection.
The report supports what Dinch and Brown has been saying about the Police Department for some time. So fix it. It's time for the full time officer on duty to take charge. This can't be a fine happy Police Department that has no respect for anyone. It's up to the full time officers to take charge and it's up to the chief to make it happen.
Still 25 votes to count in Lisbon so It's not over yet. Dave won at polls by 18%. The uncounted votes could be in his favor. It could be embarrassing for some you Suracers.
I truly don't know what you mean that you were mislead. I think the report is VERY damning on the part of the mayor (and I thought both papers were very clear about that and about Eddie having some problems with his position).
Anyway, here's what the Morning Journal has to say about it this morning in an editorial:
[Quote: "The report appears, the problems remain
What a coincidence. The election is over and, finally, the long-awaited and much-anticipated report on the investigation into the Wellsville police department has been released.
It’s amazing that the attorney/client privilege that Mayor Joseph Surace cited as his reason for keeping the report under wraps suddenly disappeared the day after the election in which Surace was seeking his second term. What changed, mayor, besides the date?
The report showed there are serious problems in the department and that the mayor is actually responsible for handling disputes between the chief and his officers ... something he apparently hasn’t done.
Surace’s reasons for withholding the report are obvious — it made him look bad. And if he thinks his constituents aren’t smart enough to realize this, well... he’s the fool here. We hope he’s not too foolish to realize that keeping the problems from public view do not make them go away.
The police department investigation report stated, “there is a clear and prevalent animosity between the two ranking officers ... Chief (Joe) Scarabino and Lt. (Ed) Wilson” and if something is not done about the situation, “consequences could be dire.” Indeed, it sounds like a boiling pot ready to spill over down there, and we hope someone is watching and ready to act when it happens.
The question is, who will that be? Mayor Surace? Doubtful, with his past record of avoiding public scrutiny and lack of accountability.
Surace exhibited this pattern of lacking accountability prior to the election. He was invited to appear before our editorial board for an endorsement interview, but never responded to our request, then complained when we endorsed his opponent.
He also failed to respond or show for the Morning Journal’s Candidate Forum to respond to questions. He made two appointments with a Morning Journal reporter for a pre-election coverage interview and did not show or give our reporter the courtesy of a cancellation call. Instead, he issued a press release regarding his candidacy and complained when we refused to publish it.
Surace should not view his re-election victory as a mandate of the people. He won by only seven votes over a political newcomer — pretty pathetic showing for a Democratic incumbent in a highly Democratic town.
And Wellsville residents, whether they supported Surace or not, should not turn their backs on this highly volatile situation. They should demand action and accountability from their mayor. After all ... they elected him."]
I voted for Surace, but I do want him to take care of the problems in the PD. whatever it takes. I have never voted for anyone that I agreed with everything about them. If he fixes this, and it may mean some heads rolling, I will be totally satisfied with him. Sorry to hear about Matt's childhood problems. That does explain alot. Hope he will get the help he needs. I think it is dumpster 1201 or 1202 to send the cards.
stop trying to cause trouble and keep things going. Eddie is no saint by a long shot and the truth is that there is trouble on BOTH sides and both sides need to fix it. Scarabino and wilson..are grown men with a responsibility to the community..they should act like grown-ups, not 10 year olds. both should do the right thing to help the community or quit.
WHAT ID LIKE TO SEE AS A CITIZEN OF WELLSVILLE IS DRUG HOUSES BE TAKEN OUT NOT WATCHED ,CLEAN EM OUT ,, THE PD ,MAYOR,ALL KNOW THEY EXIST THERE ARE LIKE 14 CRACK HOUSES IN WELLSVILLE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY BUT THE POLICE SIT ON ROUTE 7 AND WRITE TICKETS ,,, HMMM ??/
if you people would open up your eyes. YOU WOULD SEE THE BIG PICTURE,THINGS CAN'T CHANGE IN THE PD.BECAUSE THAN THEIR WOULD BE NO MORE COVER UP.CAN'T YOU PEOPLE SEE THAT IF BY SOME CHANCE LT.WILSON IS IN CHARGE THAT IT WOULD BE OVER,AND THE TRUTH WOULD COME OUT AND IT WOULD BE DIRE.SEEM TO ME THAT IF IT IS GOING TO CHANGE SOMEONE MAY NEED TO RETIRE. MAY IT BE CHEIF OR LT.
I am so sick of people like Eddie is going to blast the lid off something huge. If he has something to say, or you who are saying this have information, why don't you say it. If Eddie knows something, then why doesnt he, for the good of Wellsville, and his reputation do something about it. I am sorry, but the fact that no one ever says what it is, makes me think Eddie knows nothing explosive at all.
I agree, and I am sick of it. I think eddie just likes the attention. If you got something be a man and stand up and say it.
to 10:37 am you think they have being trying to make Wilson look bad and make him leave the pd.just because they don't like him.bullshit everyone knows the story they just don't want no part of this because they would be next.explain why the roberts murder went no where after a confession.that right they told Wilson,i guess he was not in on the cover up.
I have heard many a rumor about the Roberts murder and Eddie and cover ups, confessions, etc. Especially if Eddie knows something about a murder, shouldnt he spit it out. It is past time for people to care what Eddie says, unless he actually says something.
Yes. I do believe what I wrote. Up until the report was release Wednesday night we were led to believe that Ed Wilson was the All-American good guy. We were led to believe he was being unjustly picked on and that he would probably make a good chief. It was all over the the net with his welcome back rally. It was what I think Dinch was trying to get across in her Sunday press conference in late October. There were many other instances where folks vouched for Wilson.
Then the report comes out stating that, and I quote from the paperes, "What is clear is that Lt. Wilson has failed on several occasions to demonstrate the leadership qualities required by a lieutenant". It also states he "does not embrace the responsibilities of being a police lieutenant". We weren't led to believe that. My question is then why does he want to be a cop? For the insurance? Why does he stay in a career that he so obviously has no enthusiasm for and just shows up for work? From what I've seen and heard Ed is a good man. Maybe he is too nice to be a law enforcement officer.
The problems at the WPD has been going on for a long time. It has been ignored by past administrations at Village Hall. Surace is just the last in a line of mayors that tried to let it work itself out. That hasn't worked and now with the report it will definitely have to be dealt with. Personally I don't think the solution is going to be pretty for anyone involved. It certainly isn't pretty now.
Do I think Surace sat on that report until after the election? Well, even a neophyte political observer can answer that. Of course he did. With all the other campaign barbs going on why would he want to give the opposition more fuel for the fire? The report was dated Oct. 18th and
Surace had to follow protocal. After that what could be the harm of waiting a couple of more weeks to release it to the public? He didn't have to release it when he finally did but by doing so I think he's trying to let us know that this situation will finally be dealt with. I doublt it will be business as usual anymore at the WPD.
I never felt Ed was an all-american good guy. What I felt was that for some reason he has become the WPD's whipping post. So the report showed me....he's not the only one who screws up. Hey Nib, did you see the part where the attorneys agreed that the CHIEF does nothing to make the younger guys understand he is your Lt. and respect him. Read that for myself. I couldnt imagine working on a daily basis (inbetween suspensions) knowing there is no respect or knowing most of them wont back you up because its their job but because maybe you'll screw up again and they can tattle on you to "Big DaddY". And to say that Dinch led people to believe differently, well, everyone reads and interprets things for themself. Next time we will have ALICE break it down for you so there will be no misunderstandings!!! "reading is fundemental"...you Suracers dont have a clue.
If Wilson knows something about a cover-up or murder then I agree that he should be a man and speak out. I guess if there was really anything to say it would have come out by now. This is ridiculous. Nice post Nib.
[Quote: So the report showed me....he's not the only one who screws up. Hey Nib, did you see the part where the attorneys agreed that the CHIEF does nothing to make the younger guys understand he is your Lt. and respect him. Read that for myself. I couldnt imagine working on a daily basis (inbetween suspensions) knowing there is no respect or knowing most of them wont back you up because its their job but because maybe you'll screw up again and they can tattle on you to "Big DaddY".]
This is probably the most astute statement I've seen about this whole situation. Of course Eddie can't serve to the best of his ability when he has to watch his back against his own colleagues, let alone the scumbags on the street.
This is where GOOD LEADERSHIP (translation: mayor and chief) come in, but, unfortunately, that has not happened.
The report tells much more about the chief than it does Eddie. Eddie, after all, is NOT the boss...Joe Scarabino is, and Joe Surace is HIS boss. Neither one has done his job.
To read the report: I couldn't agree with you more..One of the papers (perhaps the review) said that the problem was already there when the chief filled the position. My god I believe he has been there long enough to retire..JUST HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT HIS DEPT? WHAT A CROCK OF CRAP.
All the sudden it was not breaking Attorny/Client privlages for releasing the report AFTER THE ELECTION? WAKE UP PEOPLE
A new poll: How many Wellsville voters who chose Surace now wish they hadn't, after he finally released the report showing the TRUE picture of his leadership abilities?
I did and would. The village has athourity over the Mayor. Also, how and why do you have to tell some officers to respect their Lty. They all know the chain of command, you learn that in the accademy. If they choose not to, it's because of a reason or they just choose not to, its their choice. Has nothing to do with the chief or the Mayor for that matter.
I meant to say the village council has authority.
[QUOTE: The village has athourity over the Mayor. Also, how and why do you have to tell some officers to respect their Lty. They all know the chain of command, you learn that in the accademy. If they choose not to, it's because of a reason or they just choose not to, its their choice. Has nothing to do with the chief or the Mayor for that matter.]
My God, what La-La land do you live in? Council is NOT the mayor's BOSS; the people who elected him are.
And the UNDERLINGS in a police department should have no say in whether they obey or disobey a ranking lieutenant. That they don't is the CHIEF'S fault.
You can work with someone whose guts you HATE, but if that person is your superior, you have an obligation to keep your relationship professional and when that isn't happening, then the CHIEF needs to step in and lower the boom.
If that means kicking the ass of the young cops or taking the lieutenant aside and FAIRLY disciplining him, then so be it. But to arbitrarily chastise, suspend and otherwise humilate a ranking officer publicly,especially when other officers are NOT being disciplined (according to the investigative report), how the hell would you expect the younger cops to respect him??
In a police situation, it is vital that all officers work together as a team, protecting one another's backs; it's obvious that is not happening in Wellsville, and that, again, is the CHIEF's fault. He needs to DEMAND respect and professional treatment among all the officers.
The way that department is operating, SOMEONE is going to get killed, be it an officer or a citizen depending on an officer.
SOMEONE better get their shit together and those someones are the chief and the mayor, who IS the chief's "boss".
Nib--
As others have said, no one claimed Lt. Wilson has always handled matters perfectly. Not even Ed would say that. But I will tell you one thing; Ed Wilson most certainly is a "good guy" whose friends are loyal not because their jobs depend on it, but because they respect him.
Your defense of Surace's witholding the report is interesting. You agree that suppression was a political move to keep the bad news from affecting his chances for re-election. You recognize it was unethical, dishonest, and deceptive.
Isn't that a bit like saying it's ok to lie and cheat as long as you win? Is that what you believe? Or did I just misunderstand your argument? If so, I apologize.
I think Nib is saying, why not for the sake of his re-election sit on it if he felt it hurt him. Be real, who wouldnt. I didnt see Dave Lloyd trotting out the audit for people to see. It wasnt dishonest like Matt says. He is just eaten up by the fact that he constantly said that Surace was so stupid, and he played it right instead. If I was running for office I would have done the same thing. Be honest, you run to win. It is human nature. In my job I give test to groups of adults. You would be shocked to know how many of them cheat, or try to. I am not saying people are basically bad, but I see people doing some pretty bad things in that test site. They have to be thrown out. My point, people are human, and try to get the advantage if they can, especially in elections. With all the crap Matt stuffed down the Mayors throat everyday, I dont blame him if he sat on it. Most political advisors would have told him to or they wouldnt have been worth their salt.
Dd you see the Morning Journal today?
Sorry, but when I saw this on ORL I couldn't beleive it.
"It is unfortunate that Ole Nib does not screen his comments. I've seen things there that simply should not be on a public message board--some of it about me"..M.Stewart
This from the trash-king. He has let all kinds of crap go on his site. He has let people get bloodied up and "tared and feathered". Turns out he is a big puss when it comes to people saying anything about him.
[Quote:I think Nib is saying, why not for the sake of his re-election sit on it if he felt it hurt him. Be real, who wouldnt. I didnt see Dave Lloyd trotting out the audit for people to see. It wasnt dishonest like Matt says.]
Oh...My...God...Can you be freaking serious? This investigative report should have been released as soon as the mayor received it; it was information pertinent to TODAY, not five years ago.
Dave probably didn't release the performance audit because it did not point to him but to problems in the ENTIRE city, which, again, were due to CITY COUNCIL, not the fire chief.
The mayor has absolute authority over the police chief and what's been going on in that department, especially the harassment of Eddie Wilson.
How you can say it was not dishonest to hold onto that report until the day after the election amazes me.
And, especially when the mayor LIED by saying he was with holding it due to lawyer/client privilege. THAT is the real telling tale...if it was a matter of lawyer/client privilege, then waiting until after the election would not have been an option.
You're grasping at straws.
I removed my previous comment because I wished to extend it. Opinions about the public actions of public people generally are not subject to libel law. Although I am not an elected official, I am a public person in the sense that I publish my political opinions on a regular basis UNDER MY OWN NAME. So feel free to say whatever you want about me in terms of my public discourse. If you publish lies and innuendoes about my personal life, that's a different story.
Frankly, I don't give a hoot what anyone says about me, but I have a thick skin and don't take the ravings of idiots seriously. But not everyone is like me. That's why I think Nib should filter comments on this site.
It is illegal to publish untrue or unsubstantiated statements about someone's personal life. There is a distinction here that I don't expect those like "yougottabekiddin" to understand. Ole Nib has chosen to conceal his identity and publish under a false name. Since "Ole Nib" is a fictitious pen name, essentially he cannot be the victim of libel. On the other hand, he can make libelous statements about someone else (which, by the way, he does not). But some of those who post on his site are not so careful.
Most of those who run interactive Web sites eventually come to understand that filtering comments is a legal and ethical necessity. Of course, Nib can do what he wants, but it remains "unfortunate" that he has chosen to leave his site wide open.
On another subject--
How are the Suracers taking the Morning Journal editorial? I'm not seeing any response to that.
The funny thing about all this? You have a mayor who has many problems in his community. You have a guy running against him who doesn't even believe in the electoral process enough to cast a vote for several years, and whose candidacy was almost thrown out for NOT voting. In most towns, BOTH guys would have been beaten by someone good.
Neither Surace or Lloyd are the great white hope for Wellsville.
And the mayor doesn't have real power, if you have a good council, the town will get along just fine. Even if the mayor wants to do something, it's council that holds the power to pass or deny the legislation to get him there.
Time to go worry about something important now, like my brother who is fighting over in Iraq, the fact that gas is about to go up to $4 a gallon, my heating bills that I'm not going to be able to pay this winter and if my kids have good enough health insurance.
Matt, you obviously have a very thin skin. I find your lecture to be exactly what it is...a cry baby crying because he doesn't like what people are saying about him.
Matt:
If you cant take the heat, get out of the kitchen. it is laughable that you of all people are lecturing about personal attacks. For Gods sake, you drink peoples blood for breakfast. Buck up you big baby. Welcome to the world of blogging.
As usual, Matt is injecting himself into things that arent his concern. I think Nib is perfectly capable of running his own blog. If I were Nib I would be insulted, and I would delete Matts posts. Stay on ORL. You are such a hypocrite.
It is transparent that 1943 and Crybaby are Surace supporters.
SO 1943 and Crybaby, what are your comments about the "Mayor" releasing the report AFTER the election.
If you people were to be considered intellectual, which yiou are not, you would know your attacks on Matt to be intellectually dishonest. Try to get over yourselves!
Look, I dont think it can be disputed that Matt pushes the envelope and insults everyone to the enth degree. If you disagree with him, you are stupid, uniformed, etc. He insults the place you call home, your choice of Mayor, and anything else he wants. He gets people angry, and he does it on purpose and with malice. He pushes people to want to cut his legs out from under him, then he threatens them. Perhaps he should use some discretion when trashing Wellsville. People dont always like or agree with the way he puts it down. There are people here trying to do good things, and are doing good things, and dont need the Village kicked in the teeth everyday by Matt. The release of the report after the election, was the only strategy the Mayor could use. He would have been stupid to put it out there before. It was a political move. But if I were running I would have done the same thing. The name of the game is to win. Politics are ugly and not always fair. Candidates always do what is best for them. Right or Wrong.
Right wiz, no one could be as intellectual as "yiou" are. Where have you been? Out researching your ass off so you can give everyone another report on the drug discount cards?
The reports should of been released asap and corrections made asap.These problems are only going to get worse as time goes by . Just like little kids ,I got my eyes closed and you cant see me.Thats the mentallity level of our administration?Do something now mayor befor its to late.
Unethical,dishonest,deceptive? What is this a multiple choice test? To call Surace's timing on the release of the report any of the three is a judgement call. Matt you're probably calling it unethical since you couldn't blast the Mayor prior to Election Day with the findings. What was dishonest or deceptive for that matter? Surace did release the report and didn't hide anything. Me thinks you're peeved because Surace didn't release it in time for you to use it in your campaigning.
Yea, I wanted to find out what the report said too. I didn't like the fact that Surace sat on it. I certainly didn't like what the report said. In a department that should be practically autonomous it is worrisome with the findings. It is scary, actually, being a resident. It doesn't bode well with anyone involved in it. With Surace releasing the report I think he is telling us he will take his lumps and he is going to deal with it. The sop of the WPD is going to be changed. If I'm wrong Joe can tell us about it.
Hey Wiz....you rock! These people could only wish to be half as intelligent as you!
Uh, do you not believe what the mayor did with the report wasnt part of his campaign?? How ironic to release it the day after elections. I wonder if he had lost on tuesday, (which he still might), if he would have released it? Probably not! He would let the problem fall into someone else's lap. He is good at that.
ole nib: You said, "With Surace releasing the report I think he is telling us he will take his lumps and he is going to deal with it." Boy do I have some swamp land to sell to you!! To date, what has Surace dealt with?
LLOYD CAN STILL WIN THIS FOLKS LETS KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED,,, ITS THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO
Matt doesn't care what people say about him? He is warning Nib to watch his blog because of the slanderous? For the love of Christ, he calls people criminals, liars and thieves, airs his vendettas for all to see and whines like a baby when someone calls him names.
Anyone who reads him knows that he pretended to be unbiased until he went to Wellsville that one day and Surace yelled at him...and then the war was on.
What Matt is saying is Nib is, probably, or coming close to having slanderous comments on his site. Slander is nothing to fool with because it can and in some cases be the begining of a lawsuit. Not knowing Nib or who he is he does have a good site, but it would be a damn shame if someone would follow thru with a lawsuit and cause his site to shut down and there are people out there who will just do that.
To all the scaracers It really throws salt in the wounds when Matt tells it like it is in Wellsville. Matt is not being bias he is getting the story out that all of the grandma's don't understand.. Read another journalist opinion on the matter that has covered news in wellsville. It is not just Matt. Maybe an outsider is better able to uncover the real problems instead of hiding behind them. Matt will always be welcome in wellsville. People have come and gone but matt stands behind what he writes. If you look he does not give bad advice he tells you to research the problem. We the people of wellsville should have done our homework.
http://www.blogger.com/content.g
That is the blogspot policy on content. It would be hard to prove libel on anyone because of the anonymous nature of posting. And nib does take off the very objectionable ones. I'm sure he's okay.
And to the last anonymous, you don't know what the word biased means. Being unbiased is seeing both sides and not shooting down comments you don't agree with and calling those people names.
to 1115 last i looked not biased and unbiased has the same meaning Not Un Da
Ole Nib;
You hit it right on the head. Matt couldnt use it before election and it is eating him alive. He uses it now, like it will make a difference. Now he is starting to throw the word recall around. The idiot never stops. If Joe does win, he will be calling for the people of the Ville to stand up and recall the Mayor. The Abused by a Joe theory I think does hold water.
[QUOTE:What was dishonest or deceptive for that matter?]
With-holding the report due to lawyer/client privilege which SUDDENLY didn't matter the day after the election...THAT'S what was dishonest and deceptive.
If it had been a campaign ploy alone, he could have just simply said he wasn't releasing it yet. Then everyone would have known it was a campaign strategy (still wrong but at least not a lie).
If nothing else, he lost valuable time by not releasing it and starting to address the critical problems in the police department it outlined.
Someone in that department is going to get killed or get someone else killed if the officers cannot trust each other and work hand-in-hand.
When that happens, someone is lying dead, and your town is being sued, ask yourselves whether the mayor did anything unethical, deceptive or dishonest
AS for reading another journalist's opinion on this matter as one poster noted, read Jeff Martin's post on ORL.
To time to go:
Thank you for your brothers service. I will pray for him as I do all soldiers in Iraq and everywhere. Go Bless Your Family.
Thank you so much for your nice words of support.
And why do we keep going back to Matt's site, anyway? It's like having a scab and picking at it and picking at it until it bleeds and then makes an ugly scar. Why is he so worried about Wellsville anyway?
You all need to start blogs of your own. Leave the English professor alone and leave ole' nibby alone. It's fun to see how they can get everyone stirred up. It's like hitting a beehive with a rock and seeing all of the bees come buzzing. Your all just fish in a fish bowl and Nibby and Old English are controlling you.
Throw the election away, bring back Nunzio, kick out slick Eddy Wilson, boot Joe Joe Scarbino and bring back Keith Thorn.
There's so much corruption in this little village. It is the "Wellsville Zone".
React to this post, little fishys!
and bring back Keith Thorn.
Oh yeah, that would be an improvement...give me a break!
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