Jerry Sandusky Mug Shot by public domain
by Barry Bozeman and Ray Blehar
Part of the SMSSS series exposing who let Sandusky roam Freeh *pun intended for 14 years.
Three entities CYS, DPW and TSM all staffed with professionals trained for recognizing child sexual abuse were aware of the Jerry Sandusky showers in 1998. None of those three were Penn State University. The public outcry following Attorney General Linda Kelly's Grand Jury Presentment, press release, and press conference focused on Penn State and Joe Paterno. But where is the outrage against these organizations who's reason for existence is based on protecting children?
Centre County Child and Youth Services - CYS, the PA Department of Public Welfare - DPW and The Second Mile charity - TSM are staffed with professionals who have expertise and responsibility in cases of child abuse. Yet all three of these organizations failed the victims of Jerry Sandusky while the public condemns an elderly football coach and 3 PSU administrators? Where is the logic, reason, or justice in that? And who allowed or made that to happen?
We know from the Freeh Report that psychologist Dr. Alycia Chambers was contacted by the mother of victim 6 to determine if the she was overreacting to the shower and bear hug experienced by her son in May, 1998 Freeh Report page 42 and 43
May 4-6, Police Report, Initial Investigation and Psychological Evaluation
On May 4, Victim 6's mother called Alycia Chambers, a licensed psychologist who had been working with her son, to see if she was overreacting to Sandusky's showering with her son. The boy told Schrefï ¬"šer what happened with Sandusky the previous evening, and added that a 10-year-old friend of his had been in a shower with Jerry on another occasion where Sandusky similarly squeezed the friend.
Note that Dr Chambers uncovered a second victim of a Sandusky shower right then as is confirmed by the police report produced by Detective Ronald Schreffler
On May 7, Chambers provided a copy of her written report to Det. Schreffler. Chambers said she was pleased with the response ot the agencies involved, as the gravity of the incidents seems to be well appreciated.
This documentation confirms that the CYS and police knew of at least two bear hug showers with 2 separate boys and Jerry Sandusky. At this point someone made the determination that CYS had conflicts of interest since they did evaluations for The Second Mile (Freeh p 43)
Detective Schreffler contacted John Miller, a caseworker with Centre County Children & Youth Services (CYS) about the allegation. However, there were several conflicts of interest with CYS's involvement in the case. CYS had contracts with the Second Mile - including placement of children in 2M residential program & the Second Mile CEO Raykovitz had a contract with CYS to conduct evaluations. The referral sheet from psychologist Chambers indicated the case might involve a CYS foster child. In light of these conflicts, the Dept of Public Welfare (DPW) took over the case on May 5. DPW officials in Harrisburg, PA took the lead because of Sandusky's high profile and assigned it to caseworker Jerry Lauro replacing John Miller.
So Detective Schreffler, John Miller of CYS and Dr. Chambers all three know of both boys by early May in 1998 when someone has DPW in the person of Jerry Lauro take over the investigation. Lauro interviews victim 6's mother but he claims he was never made aware of Dr. Chambers evaluation? The mother of victim 6 relied on Dr. Chamber's evaluation and her call to CYS but she never mentions this to Lauro? How curious. What else would she have to say to investigator Lauro?
Also on May 7, Lauro interviewed the boy's mother. According to Schreffler's notes, Lauro had received copies of the boy's recorded statement, yet Lauro advised the Special Investigative Counsel that he did not have full access to the facts of the case and was unaware of psychologist Chambers' evaluation.
Are we to believe that nobody told DPW that two boys were subjected to this behavior or that Dr. Chambers was the person who made the initial report to CYS? At this point District Attorney Karen Arnold becomes involved as the prosecutor handling the case.
Schreffler had a discussion with Karen Arnold, Centre County prosecutor in the District Attorney's office, that day as well. Arnold told Schreffer to postpone a second psychological evaluation of the boy until an additional investigation could be completed. Nonetheless, a second evaluation of the boy occurred on May 8, as part of DPW's investigation.
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