(3/18/2010 7:30 am) - The Register is reporting that Gene Sullivan is under investigation for registering his car out-of-state - thereby avoiding CT Property taxes. See the end of this post for more.
(3/15/2010 2:00 pm) - I have been informed that the warrant has been served, and an arrest has been made. More to come...
The phones are a-ringin', and the politico's are a-cluckin', about the impending arrest of a prominent Campbell Avenue merchant on various charges connected with the burglary of a Police Commissioner's home.
As I currently understand the matter - and it's quite likely that some of the following is incorrect - some idiots decided it would be a bright idea to break into the home of a Police Commissioner (has anyone ever heard of a smart criminal?). They made away with quite a haul, including several pieces of jewelry. The "perps" brought their swag to the businessman, ostensibly to sell the goods, and said merchant bought them. He REALLY likes gold, you see:
Now, I just sold a gold ring (at a different establishment); I had to produce photo ID, and I was told they would have to hold the ring for some days (ironically, to ensure it wasn't "hot"). Apparently our boy failed to follow these strictures, and melted the items down immediately. If these allegations are true, I believe this is known as "receiving stolen goods" and "aiding and abetting".
The reason why this sordid little talewarrants (oops, bad word!) merits my attention? Well, this merchant just won a seat on the Democratic Town Committee, and has been widely touted as the next Party Chairman.
It's been said that everything he touches turns to gold, and I can believe it: why, he obviously touched his cars' license plates years ago, and turned his Connecticut plates into Florida ones (hey, Florida is "the Sunshine State", and sunshine is golden, right?)
This is nothing new...in fact, I reported on this situation almost exactly a year ago. It still is a mystery as to why it's taken so long to come to a boil. Surely, political pressures had nothing to do with it, right?
The reason why this sordid little tale
It's been said that everything he touches turns to gold, and I can believe it: why, he obviously touched his cars' license plates years ago, and turned his Connecticut plates into Florida ones (hey, Florida is "the Sunshine State", and sunshine is golden, right?)
This is nothing new...in fact, I reported on this situation almost exactly a year ago. It still is a mystery as to why it's taken so long to come to a boil. Surely, political pressures had nothing to do with it, right?
Posts
16 comments:
Add that to the construction work being done at the superintendent of schools house by the very person who is handing work out for the BOE.
Does the name Mark Lauretti ring a bell!
I've been in West Haven since 1996, and it has always surprised me that sleazy politicos somehow maintain support from the public. I know when I go into the voting booth, I remember all the things these people do/are accused of doing. What's wrong with the W. Haven voters? They're either in on the scam, too stupid to realize there is a scam, or too lazy to care.
Al - part of the problem is the "small town" mentality: people end up voting for the most popular person...regardless of what they've done on the shady side. This happens all around the country.
Another part - and I think it's a BIG part - is the absence of an opposition party. the Republicans have imploded...and seem to be happy with their role as an irrevelant part of local politics. ABF is a joke: only a group of out-of-power Democrats fighting against the in-power Democrats.
Until a REAL opposition party emerges, these sort of games will continue.
This is ridiculus, I bet 90 % of WH Residents never even knew who this guy was before the arrest.
His name came up because Picard wanted him as the new Dem leader or even less people would know his name.
I'm sure Picard had no idea what he was doing on the side or should I believe the NH Register bloggers who say Picard was in on it, lol
If the NHR made people sign up to blog or posted Ip addresses you would see it the same people posting over and over
Anonymous -
I agree with most of your post...and I'd add more.
If people really knew this was going on (like they seem to imply on the NHR blog), I don't think this would have been such a "huge story". Even though I disagree with him, Picard wouldn't put himself into this bind.
The NHR bloggers are, IMHO, full of it or should that be, "full of themselves? Same thing, either way.
I think that ALL who post onto the Register articles should have to provide an IP...even if we don't see it.
Whenever I post on the Register, I do so under my name, or using "West Haven Bob". Too bad our other commentators don't have the same guts.
As a 45 year old, life long resident of West Haven, all I can add is: I don't know any of these people personally, or anyone who actually knows them personally. I know people who have met them, or maybe lived near them once, or have seen them around or something equally unenlightening, but no one who actually KNOWS them.
I've asked "Why'd you vote for (insert so-and-so's name here)?" and have gotten in reply, "Meh... I voted for her last time." or "No reason, I just don'like the other guy....", even, no lie, "Well, he winked at me when I saw him in Elm Diner once."
THAT'S. NOT. A. GOOD. ENOUGH. REASON!
Sigh.
I hate that I know more about Alaska's political players than I do my own back yard's.
I can assure people JP is not doing anything to put himslef in Jail.
I know Frank Ruocco From Earth Technologies very well, does that mean I should be on trial with him ?
JP has ambitions way beyond WH, trust me.
Sure he gave out some jobs but name me one mayor or Demmy leader who didn't.
He won by a landslide despite all the negative publicity and guess what he will win in 2011 should he decide to run again.
They are all over him in the NHR today for the BOE budget.
He can't win, try to save on the BOE budget and they cry , raise taxes and they cry
MonaLisa - I know both Gene and Tom, and while I don't think this was a "set-up" (like the conspiracy nuts on the Register blogs), I never would have predicted this situation. The few times I went to Gene's, he always dealt fairly and honestly. I suspect there's more to come out on this story.
As far as not knowing the candidates, you're in good company. But this sad state of affairs can't be blamed solely on the politicians; the voters have to demand something of their elected officials as well.
And BTW...the more I know of Alaskan politicians, the less I wanna know about'em.
I misspoke in my last comment. I should have said something more like, "I don't know them personally, and no one I know whose opinion I respect and trust knows them personally." etc, et al. So, to Anon who knows Ruocco: No, I for one don't think that your knowing Ruocco well means you should be on trial with him, just because you know him well. If, however, I knew and trusted you, I'd respect your opinion as to whether I should hire his company to clean up any contaminated property I might have lying around.
Ya' know what I mean?
The only dealings I've had with Sullivan were very indirect - my mother would take jewelry she'd purchased from the Home Shopping Channel to Craigenes to be appraised. That's it. The only contact I've had with JP was (literally) bumping into him at a crowded fundraiser for a city man recently diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago. That's it. I've known another principle (one of the non-politicians) since I was a little girl, because his little brother was my age and we shared many classes in elementary school. I've never heard anything negative about him at all over all these years, so I was disturbed today to learn that he's experiencing fallout over all this.
(RE: AK politicos - Anchorage's mayor is also named Sullivan. Recent actions of his make OUR Sullivan look like an Eagle Scout!)
Overall, I DO blame myself for not paying better attention all these years. Gotta start some where, right?
MonaLisa - I've known both Gene and Tom for decades, and by West Haven standards (not a very high bar), both are close to Eagle scouts. Certainly no one is West Haven is a saint.
My feelings on this whole situation is that everyone is jumping to conclusions too fast; let the legal system sort it out. It's my hope that when all is said & done, it will be shown that Gene made a mistake, without criminal intent. And let's not forget, Tom is the VICTIM here. The only one without any cover is the kid that robbed the place.
But your point is valid, the voters do have to demand more information from the candidates. The people who force us to rely on "word of mouth" are sometimes the ones with the most to hide.
Oh yeah....Killer pic, ML!
Thanks, Bob! (Fun with PhotoShop; I look MUCH less killer in 'real life'!)
Also, I couldn't believe some of the NHR comments about Gene. I don't have a lot of money, either (by some's standards, I live VERY simply!) but even I own 4 watches (which I never wear), 2 digital cameras, a computer, a dvd player, a stereo system, etc., et. al., that I've accumulated over the years either as purchases I've made or gifts I've received. What kind of unhappy, mistrustful souls automatically assume a police commissioner would live like a first year beat-cop unless he's ethically challenged?
The non-politician I referred to wasn't Gene, btw.
ML - ALL the posts on the NH Register seem "over the top"...it seems that our politico's and their supporters tend to show a lot of their character when given this anonymous forum.
This is why I insist on reviewing all posts before they're published. I'll publish any post - even if I disagree with the viewpoint offered - as long as it's reasonably germane and intelligent
I for one am troubled by what seems to be the REAL faces of our politico's (on all sides) - and their supporters - as displayed on the NHR blogs.
Where is the outrage against the WHPD? they were called by Mr. sullivan and took no action and actually told him if the kid comes in again to call them back. so Mr. Sullivan calls them again regarding stolen jewelry and this time they act. He reported a crime twice to get ONE response from the WHPD? so lets get this straight-an individual calls to report a possible crime and the police do nothing. he calls again about the same thing and the police take action against him and believe the 17 year old criminal about where all the jewelry is. so he gets arrested, rep ruined. police execute search warrant find nothing new. the executed a search warrant on somebody who reported the crime. West Haven PD dropped the ball and gave into a police commisioners wishes instead of following procedures, but there is no outrage???? what should mr. sullivan had done?? let the individual leave with stolen jewelry instead of getting it back for gallagher?? SO BOB, WHERE IS YOUR CONCERN ABOUT A CORRUPT POLICE DEPARTMENT LISTENING TO A COMMISIONER INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING TEH LAW??
So where'd you hear this, Anon? Is there a link? This version doesn't seem to follow either the NHR story or anything I've heard from the mouth of anybody.
Why would the police take no action if Mr. Sullivan behaved as you say? That makes no sense.
(And you know what Judge Judy always says....)
I sincerely doubt, in a city the size of West Haven, that the commissioner screens incoming calls. Dispatch contacts whatever officers are in the vicinity, and they respond. (And don't you think that any cop, at the very least, might want the brownie-points of being the one to find the big-boss' heirlooms?)
"West Haven PD dropped the ball and gave in to a police commissioner's wishes instead of following procedures...."
Are you saying that the Police Commissioner would rather risk losing his grandmother's antique ruby ring, just so he can exact some kind of revenge on Sullivan? That's what you make it sound like, so I just want to be sure I understand you correctly.
(Did I miss something? Did Sullivan run over the commissioner's dog? Why would Gallagher have such a grudge against Sullivan, that he'd resort to such a tactic as you describe?)
For what it's worth, your whole comment comes across more like 'spin' than commentary. I mean, you're attacking the 'rep' of the entire West Haven Police Department to make your point, but not providing any verifiable information.
And that's a little outrageous, now innit?
Post a Comment