Sunday, March 11, 2007

Addison Series # 5 – “Major Duke Involvement"

Readers' Note: If you're a frequent visitor here you may want to skip down to the star line. ************

Cpl. David Addison is a veteran Durham Police officer whose regular assignment is Coordinator for Durham CrimeStoppers, described as an independent nonprofit organization.

In late March 2005 Addison served for some days as DPD's spokesperson for the Duke lacrosse case; during which time Addison repeatedly told the public a “brutal rape” and other crimes were committed at a party hosted by Duke lacrosse players. Addison also wrote and distributed the text of the Durham CrimeStoppers Duke lacrosse “Wanted” poster which declared:

The Duke Lacrosse Team was hosting a party at the residence. The victim was sodomized, raped, assaulted and robbed. This horrific crime sent shock waves throughout our community.
If you're new to the Addison Series, please refer to the previous series posts at the end of this post. They're in chronilogical order, first to last.
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Folks,

Until today I’d planned to end the series with a post, “Sue who,” which will discuss individuals and organizations against whom one, some or all 46 white members of Duke’s 2006 Men’s lacrosse team appear to have cause to bring civil suits for slander and libel. I still plan to post “Sue who” but it may be delayed.

The reason?

Since May 2006 I’ve been trying to find out who the Durham CrimeStoppers Board of Directors were on March 28, 2006 when Durham Police Cpl. David Addison, assigned as Durham CrimeStoppers’ (CS) Coordinator, released to DPD substations, media and others the text of the false and inflammatory CS Duke lacrosse “Wanted” poster.

I wanted to know who the CS board members were because Addison’s DPD supervisor, Maj. Lee Russ, told me when Addison issued the “Wanted” poster he wasn’t acting as a DPD officer; Addison was, according to Russ, acting under a blanket authority the CS board gave him to issue CS posters at his discretion.

So who were the CS board members?

The public needs to hear what they have to say about Addison, CS’s responsibility for the “Wanted” poster and Durham attorney Alec Charns' request on behalf of an unindicted Duke lacrosse player for a full, formal apology by DPD and Durham City for their responsibility for the “Wanted” poster which Charns says libeled the Duke students.

Charns is also seeking a formal investigation by DPD into the poster's production and distribution.

DPD and Durham City insist responsibility for the “Wanted” poster rests with Addison and Durham CS.

Despite many attempts since last May, I haven't learned for certain the name of anyone who was a CS board member last March when Addison issued the “Wanted” poster.

Addison's never returned numerous voice mails. The contact number for CS is the same as his. Messages left for CS were never returned. Russ told me last June he didn’t know when or where CS’s board met. He said he couldn’t offer any help beyond suggesting that I keep doing what I was doing.

I’d just about convinced myself Durham CS was a “letterhead” organization with DPD basically calling “the shots” while a few “good-will” citizens lent their names to fund-raising letters and “board sign-offs.”

But that changed in the last two days as I began learning about Duke University’s extensive involvement with Durham CS.

I want to tell you what I've learned, and how I learned it.

My learning started with a comment from a reader self-IDing as “Cederford” who said Duke’s dean of students, Sue Wasiolek, and Robert “Bob” Dean, director of Duke’s Police Department, were Durham CS members. Cederford didn’t say when they were CS board members or cite a source. So I googled Wasiolek and Dean.

Among Wasiolek’s returns was a Duke Alumni Association listing of it’s 2006-2007 board of directors of which Wasiolek is one. She’s described as “involved in the boards of Durham CrimeStoppers, ...” (see here, scroll to page 28).

Among Dean’s returns was a Duke News announcement dated Feb. 7, 2006, just five weeks before Crystal Mangum made her March 14 false witness which many at Duke and in Durham eagerly embraced, and used in ways that endangered most directly the 46 Duke students on the lacrosse team, but also put others in the community at greater risk of violence by unstable individuals and hate groups.

The Duke News’ announcement concerning Dean began:
Robert H. “Bob” Dean has been named Director of the Duke University Police Department, university officials announced

Dean, who served the Duke community for 41 years before retiring and returning last year as interim director, will lead the department’s day-to-day operations and report to Aaron Graves, vice president for campus safety and security.
Near the end of the announcement there was this:
Dean has remained active in public safety and the community by serving as chairman of Durham CrimeStoppers.
The returns don’t necessarily mean that when the "Wanted" posted was produced and distributed Dean was Durham CS chairman and Wasiolek a CS board member.

Duke Police Director Dean may have resigned as CS board chairman and member in the weeks between his appointment last February and Addison’s poster’s production late last March.

Dean of Students Wasiolek may not have joined the CS board until after March.

I'll say more about their CS involvement at the end of this post.

Within a few hours of receipt of Cederford’s comment, I received an email from a friend with many Duke connections as well as some DPD connections. The friend knew of my efforts to learn whether Durham CS had ever, as a non-profit engaged in fund-raising, filed reports with the NC Secretary of State’s office.

I worked with two public information officers in the SofS’s office. We'd turned-up no Durham CS filings but the PIOs had informed me that in was not clear whether Durham CS was in fact required to file any documents with the SofS’s office.

My friend gave me a link here and said it wouldn’t look like much but if I kept “pushing” it would yield a big payoff.

The link is to a June 1983 pro-forma Durham CS filing with the SofS’s office that I and the two PIOs missed.

The filing contains the name and address of only one person who isn't even identified as a CS board member.

But I knew right away who the person was as would any Dukie from the 70s, 80s and through the mid- 90s. It was Paul Dumas.

Beginning in 1971 Dumas served for twenty-five years as Duke’s Police Director. He retired in 1996 and passed away in March, 2001. His family asked that, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a contribution in his memory do so to “any CrimeStoppers organization.”

I contacted some Duke people who said Dumas had been a passionate supporter of CS throughout his career. One suggested Dumes very likely encouraged Wasiolek and Dean to get involved in Durham CS. “Paul was always 'recruiting' for CS. He worked with them for years.”

Other Duke people said their impressions were that the university had over the years worked very closely with Durham CS and provided it with considerable material support. “Duke is a dominant presence within Durham CS. I don’t want to go as far as saying Duke controls it, but it’s been at least close to that for many years. Have you looked at back issues of Ten Fourteen? They’re on the web.”

I hadn’t looked at any back issues of Ten Fourteen because I didn’t know it's DUPD’s monthly newsletter for its staff and their families. But I started looking.

The April ’05 Ten Fourteen contains a CrimeStoppers article that includes this:
Duke Police has worked for years with Durham CrimeStoppers, but this year, the Duke Police investigations division is expanding its efforts to raise awareness in the Durham community to help solve campus crimes.

The collaborative includes a more formalized partnership, so cases don’t go unnoticed by CrimeStoppers. David Addison, Durham police corporal and CrimeStoppers coordinator, has started attending a Duke investigations meeting once a week to hear about cases and share information, and Duke Police First Sergeant Greg Stotsenberg is serving as the CrimeStoppers liaison. […]

Major Phyllis Cooper, commander of the Duke investigations division, said the department will mostly enlist CrimeStoppers help with more serious crimes such as robbery, assault and felony theft on campus. […]

“We need everyone’s efforts in solving serious crimes that occur at Duke,” Cooper said. “We want officers and members of the community to remember CrimeStoppers is available.”

In the event of a felony crime on campus, the Duke Police investigator assigned to the case would contact and meet with Addison, the Durham police corporal and CrimeStoppers coordinator.

Posters would be created and distributed on and off campus and an alert would be sent through a Durham city email list, as well as other media sources.
DUPD's Nov. ’05 Ten Fourteen includes this news item:
Officer Christine Gwyn and Sgt. Greg Stotsenberg are filling in as interim coordinators for Durham CrimeStoppers while the coordinator, Durham Police Cpl. David Addison attends training.

Gwyn contributed in October when the second of Durham’s Ten Most Wanted was apprehended; in November, Stotsenberg fills in. The duties include sending email notices for crime-solving tips, taking confidential tips and assisting with a city TV program about Durham’s Ten Most Wanted.
Folks,

There you have what I've learned so far about Duke's involvement with Durham CrimeStoppers and how I leaned it.

Like any decent person, I strongly support Duke's involvement with CrimeStoppers' personnel and activities that contribute to public safety and the just enforcement of laws.

But Duke involvement in the "Wanted" poster is a very different matter that needs prompt, full and public examination by the university.

Who but the most ardent board of trustee Brodhead supporter or an apologist for the faculty Group of 88 would fail to vigorously condemn anyone on Duke's payroll who had anything to do with the CS "Wanted" poster?

Dean of students Sue Wasiolek and police director Bob Dean are arguably the two Duke administrators most responsible for student safety.

That either or both may have had CS board involvement during or around the time the "Wanted" poster circulated on campus and elsewhere should be cause for outrage.

Duke trustee chair Robert Steel needs to ask dean Wasiolek and police director Dean to explain their involvement with Durham CrimeStoppers and what, if anything, they did once they learned the "Wanted" poster was out there and endangering students and others in the community.

This is not a time to be playing games or stonewalling for members of "the Brodhead team."
________________

Previous Addison Series posts:

“The Cpl. Addison Series.”

“Addison Series #1" - "This horrific crime”

"Addison Series #2" - "CrimeStoppers will pay cash"

"Addison Series #3" - "Not my poster"

“Addison Series #4 – “They call it ‘squeezing.’”

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

John:

That is good detective work. If Duke, through intent or inadvertence, is responsible for the "Wanted" poster, Duke deserves to be held legally responsible.

Anonymous said...

John, Thank you for this effort.

There is a level of involvement in this case at Duke that is being hidden. It must be brought to light.

The Duke Board of Trustees must demand an immediate independent (not Brodhead controlled) investigation into Duke's involvement with the heinous "wanted" poster.

Anonymous said...

It will take lawsuits and the discovery process to get to the the bottom of the many criminal conspiracies in the frame-up of the lacrosse players.

Anonymous said...

In a word: Byzantine!

Anonymous said...

John,

Thanks so much for your investigative work.

I plan on sending a letter to the Duke Board of Trustees regarding this and the University's liability in this matter.

Anonymous said...

I guess what I'm wondering is, and this may be simplistic as heck, but how much of the "Wanted" poster was created by Duke PD on Duke time using Duke computers and equipment?

The reason I ask is that it would be a heck of a note if the LAX parents alumni donations had helped pay for their sons lynching.

-AC

AMac said...

J-in-C,

Great post. Makes me wonder, though: are there any local newspapers in your part of North Carolina with interests in investgative reporting? You'd think this is the kind of story that journalists would be chomping at the bit to file.

Wouldn't you?

You'd also think a few people would be puzzled and even alarmed that a nationally famous organization has a local chapter with a board peopled by--nobody--and a part-time employee supervised by--nobody.

Guess not, though.

Cedarford, fascinating comment. Worth its own, separate post!

Anonymous said...

I made this point when it first happened. Crimestoppers is used when the either the alleged assailant in not known or his whereabouts is not known. Neither condition applied in this case.

There is no reasonable defense for the Crimestoppers efforts regarding this case. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that they were fomenting racial stress and making false and misleading prejudicial statements against innocent men for political gain of a crony.

It is time to get out the checkbooks, Duke, Brodhead, Nifong, DPD, Addison, Gottlieb, Duke 88 severally, both newspapers and all most of their editorial staffs, again severally.

One disagreement with John. The 47th player, you know the black one, shouldn't be left out of plaintiffs case. Although, he was not personally accused of crimes everyone knew didn't happen, he still was wronged in that his season of lacrosse was suspended. I don't know his circumstances, but if he was on a scholarship or hoping to earn one, he lost more than just his opportunity to display his ability on the field, which is bad enough.

The coach also should be in line for a huge settlement.

And somebody should buy the women's lacrosse team the finest dinner is Durham, or maybe go somewhere nicer.

Anonymous said...

If huge tort claims await the end of the criminal case, is this one reason the state of North Carolina continues to drag its feet on dismissal of the frame-up charges? Will Attorney General Cooper do the right thing or will he continue the hoax?

Anonymous said...

I believe that this business does not just belong in civil court, but also criminal court. David Addison is a criminal, period. He took part in an effort to frame innocent people, and he needs to meet the bar of justice.

The only way for a just outcome is for Addison and others to spend lengthy times in prison. Don't talk about "showing mercy" here. Addison tried to help frame people who would have spent 60 years in prison had they been convicted, and Addison would have been proud of his efforts. Thus, if he does meet the bar of justice, we should be proud of our efforts to see that a monster like Addison receive the justice he deserves. The man is a lying, dishonest, and malevolent monster and nothing less.

Anonymous said...

He's a cop for Christ's sake. He knew he was breaking the law.

Barbie, Eichmann, and others used the "I vas only following orders." defense.

Were I employed by someone who ordered me to break the law, I would still be culpable if I did it. So is Addison.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Stunning detective work. Obviously too-deep for Durham and national media. Stay on it, John.

Anonymous said...

Can someone post this to John in Carolina's blog comments? I'm having trouble posting there, but I want to make sure he sees this. He is doing research into finding the board members of Crime Stoppers. I found one.

He posted here on 4/24/2006:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/safedurham/message/163
that he was a member since 1994. So he was in a position to approve the wanted poster, or to deny that the board was involved.


QUOTE

Wow. You've got to be joking.
CrimeStoppers has been doing this, very successfully, and paying for the information, for over 20 years.
Call - 683-1200.

We pay for the info and we never want to know who you are.
In fact, I am very interested in starting a program in DPS.

Board member since 1994.

Pat Radack, REALTOR®, E-pro, e-Certified
Selling Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. Let's make the Research Triangle your Home.
Prudential Carolinas Realty Co., Inc.

Anonymous said...

Here are two more members.

One is Pat Radack.

He posted here on 4/24/2006:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/safedurham/message/163

That he was a member since 1994.

Wow. You've got to be joking.
CrimeStoppers has been doing this, very successfully, and paying for the information, for over 20 years.
Call - 683-1200.

We pay for the info and we never want to know who you are.
In fact, I am very interested in starting a program in DPS.

Board member since 1994.

Pat Radack, REALTOR®, E-pro, e-Certified
Selling Durham and Chapel Hill, NC. Let's make the Research Triangle your Home.
Prudential Carolinas Realty Co., Inc.


The second is Pat Ellis. He was chairman of the board in September 2002. Minutes from a partners against crime meeting talk about the make up of the board, and annual budget of Crime stoppers.

http://www.pac2durham.com/minutes/pac/pac09_09_02.htm


Our next speaker was Pat Ellis, who chairs what he calls "the best-kept secret in Durham"-Durham Crimestoppers. Ellis pointed out that although Crimestoppers has pretty high name recognition, many of those who have heard of it don't actually know what it is and what it does. Crimestoppers began in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; here in Durham, it got started in 1983. It's a nonprofit organization that coordinates efforts of the public, law enforcement, and the media to fight crime. The police department releases information about crimes, including pictures of suspects. The media play a vital role by disseminating this information to the public. Members of the public who might have some knowledge of a crime or its perpetrator can phone in anonymous tips to Crimestoppers (683-1200), which provides an incentive by paying cash rewards for useful information.

Crimestoppers has a board of directors (with a maximum of 17, and currently 11 members) whose main activity is raising money. The board also establishes policy and determines the amount of rewards. They pay rewards of varying amounts; the average is about $300-$400. They paid out their maximum reward of $1200 a few years back in the Carson homicide. A couple of months ago, a small boy from Walltown found a weapon used in a recent assault; Crimestoppers bought him a new bike.

Crimestoppers suffers from something of an identity crisis: many people think they're a part of the police department, but in fact, they're a nonprofit funded by community donations. (Crimestoppers is a 501(c)(3) organization.) Hence, although they do get some funding aid from the city, they are not a publicly funded service, and they rely on donations to continue their work. Crimestoppers works with a coordinator from the DPD, currently Inspector David Addison. He meets with them every third Tuesday and brings a list of recommended payoffs based on which tips from Crimestoppers have proven useful.

The Crimestoppers board has the power to approve, veto, increase, or decrease these proposed reward payoffs. The following Friday, they meet the informants in a public place and pay them in cash. It's not unusual for informants to do repeat business with Crimestoppers. Since Crimestoppers got started in Durham, they have helped solve 3,025 cases, including 107 homicides, 297 armed robberies, 495 burglaries, and 583 fugitives apprehended. They have also been instrumental in 444 drug arrests and the confiscation of over $2 million in drugs. Since late 1999/early 2000, Crimestoppers has paid out over $10,000 in rewards in District 2, in connection with crimes including two bank robberies, a robbery at George's Garage, two homicides, a vehicle B&E on Watts St., a sexual assault, assorted drug sales including one large drug bust on Cole Mill Road, and one kidnapping. Crimestoppers has a budget of $50,000 for this year. The Crimestoppers grant from the city this year was only $29,000 (a 3% reduction from last year), so they need to raise a good deal more money. Administrative costs make up a very small portion of their budget, since Crimestoppers is run by an all-volunteer board. The board includes representatives from NCCU, Duke, the Durham Police Department, and the county sheriff's office. Crimestoppers recently received a $1500 grant from the Governor's Crime Commission, which they used to publicize Crimestoppers in the local schools. In the past, they have put up posters with Crimestoppers information; this time, they also had information printed on hall passes to be used in schools. They are working with school officials and would like to increase their profile in the schools. Lt. Ed Sarvis, who for several years worked closely with Crimestoppers, testified to the importance of what they do.

Crimestoppers is so highly valued by the police department that they devote a full-time employee to answering the Crimestoppers phone line. The existence of Crimestoppers allows the police department to reduce the size of their informants' fund for nondrug criminal cases. Sarvis pointed out that he couldn't praise Crimestoppers enough for the good work that they do, but it takes $50,000-$60,000 a year for them to be able to do it. Crimestoppers would like to have their phone answered 24/7, but at present they can't afford it. They hope to be able to fund another phone person so that callers will not have to leave voicemail messages as they currently do. They've considered using an answering service, but that too was expensive. Trust is a vital element in the Crimestoppers program, and many callers don't feel comfortable leaving a message instead of talking to a person. Also, if they have information the police need to act on immediately, by the time someone gets the message it could be too late.


MacD

Anonymous said...

I can send you the board list - what email address

Anonymous said...

actually - here it is - let me know if you need the back up

as of end of 2005 early 2006
robert dean - chair
kent fletcher - vice chair
don reese - treasurer
rest of board
jim thompson
jim carrington
jay freeman
patrick ellis
pat raddock
bill hinton
karla borges
dan hill
sue wasiolek

Anonymous said...

oops - missed chick hinton

Anonymous said...

For the record, it should be noted that Sue Wasiolek is Duke's Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Anonymous said...

More Duke involvement.

While searching Yahoo groups for other CrimeStoppers mentions, I found this post, from Susan Kauffman, Director of Special Projects in Duke's Public Affairs and Government Relations Office.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pac3/message/1836

Titled "Message from Duke", Ms. Kauffman, as a representative of Duke, is promoting the pot-banging rally in front of 610 N Buchanan!


Folks, just learned that there is a rally scheduled for 2 p.m. today
outside 610 N. Buchanan. African-American ministers are organizing it.
Buses will be bringing students from NCCU. Duke and Durham police will be
in attendance.

I apologize for the late notice. Duke Student Affairs and Duke Police were
notified yesterday afternoon and asked me to alert listserves, but I hadn't
looked at my email since yesterday morning.
SK

MacD

Anonymous said...

Why do you say that Ms. Kauffman was "promoting" the potbanging lynch mob rally? Might she not just have been warning about it?

The Vegas Art Guy said...

Keep up the good work. I sincerely hope Nifraud, er Nifong gets disbarred for his part in this nonsense.

PS I got here from LaShawn Barber's Blog... FYI