Seung-Hui Cho's Medical Records Released; Virginia Tech Families Continue Quest for Truth and Accountability

The recently released mental health records of Virginia Tech killer Seung-Hui Cho reveal that the Virginia Tech Cook Counseling Center had numerous opportunities to deal with Cho's mental instability and apparently dropped the ball, according to a lawyer for the families' of Julia Pryde and Erin Peterson, students killed in the April 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy.

In an August 21, 2009 article by Richmond Times-Dispatch Reporter David Ress, the families' lawyer says the records challenge the university's claim that Cho was dealt with properly.

Excerpt reprinted from timesdispatch.com

Families say files contradict Va. Tech

August 21, 2009

BY DAVID RESS, TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

…

"The records are remarkable for what they don't contain," the families' Reston-based lawyer, Robert T. Hall, said.

Tech released two sets of medical records Wednesday — one from the university's Cook Counseling Center, the other discovered last month in the home of the center's former director.

Cho shot and killed 32 students and professors on April 16, 2007, before killing himself.

About seven months before that, the counseling center advised Associate Dean Mary Ann Lewis that staff members could find no mental-health history on Cho, according to legal papers filed in Blacksburg by the families yesterday. Lewis asked the counseling center about Cho's history in September 2006, after a professor asked Lewis for help in dealing with the troubled student.

The legal papers formally ask Robert C. Miller, the former director of the counseling center, to admit:

• That Tech's director of residence life, Gerald Kowalski, told Miller that a judge found Cho to be an imminent danger to himself or others on Dec. 14, 2005, and that Cho had kept knives in his dorm room and had a history of erratic behavior.
• That a counselor spent only 30 minutes with Cho after the judge's finding, which included a court order that Cho get mental-health care. That order and her session with Cho were on Dec. 14, 2005.
• That the counselor did not try to make any diagnosis of Cho or arrange for any follow-up care.
• That counseling center staff rated Cho as "troubled" and needing follow-up within two weeks after he called the center on Nov. 30, 2005, to say he was depressed and having panic attacks.
• That Miller was aware of an incident earlier in 2005 that led Tech professor Nikki Giovanni to demand he be removed from her class.

Hall said the families of Erin Peterson and Julia Pryde, two of Cho's victims, believe those were among the facts that Miller should have known. The families are claiming that Miller, along with several other university officials and the university itself, were negligent in monitoring and treating Cho.

Hall said the families are disputing an assertion by Tech that the counseling center acted appropriately and offered to provide treatment to him.

Miller's lawyer, Edward J. McNelis III, said Miller has sworn under oath that he inadvertently removed the Cho file and added that the families' request for admissions from Miller are not facts but only contentions about what Miller knew. He said Miller is confident that the allegations against him by the families will be proven false in court.

…

According to the released records, Virginia Tech's Cook Counseling Center was made aware of Seung-Hui Cho's problems as early as November 30, 2005, nearly a year and a half before the April 16, 2007 tragedy where he took the life of 32 students and teachers as well as his own. The failure to recognize the warning signs of Cho's seriously troubled mental state must be fully investigated as the quest for truth and accountability continues.

READ MORE

Families say files contradict Va. Tech	Click here to visit site
Tech Gunman's Records Reveal Lack of Treatment	Click here to visit site
Attorneys: Medical Records Show gaps in Tech's monitoring of Cho	Click here to visit site
Cook director in possession of Cho's records was fired	Click here to visit site
Virginia Tech Blogs	Click here to visit site

Essex County College Police Academy Graduation: Reawakening the Heart of America

Thursday, August 13, 2009 was a night of honor, pride, and celebration in Cedar Grove, New Jersey as the Essex County College Police Academy graduated 21 new Police Officers. These graduates will serve agencies including the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Glen Ridge Police Department, New Jersey Transit Police Department and West Orange Police Department.

Essex County leaders in attendance included A. Zachary Yamba, President of Essex County College, Vernell Patrick, Executive Vice President & Provost of Essex County College, Rocco L. Miscia Jr., Director of the Essex County College Police Academy and Wayne J. Morrison, Associate Director of the Essex County College Police Academy.

As the keynote speaker I reminded the graduates that they have the power to Reawaken the Heart of America—they represent hope for their agencies, communities and the nation in response to a head-on collision of corruption and violence in society today.

Keynote Excerpts
Reawakening the Heart of America

This is a night of achievement, hope and excitement for our police academy graduates.

This celebration is larger than personal accomplishment… each of these graduates stands for something larger than themselves…they are a sign, symbol and reality for their families, friends, communities, county and country.

Tonight, we are reminded that we are at pivotal crossroads of American history… we are reminded of the dignity of the law enforcement profession, of the call to integrity of all who serve in public office and of the importance of each member of our communities…

A Reawakening of the Heart of America begins tonight as together we proclaim:

We the People will reawaken the heart of America by serving our communities and holding the virtue of justice as our banner.

We the People will reawaken the heart of America by honoring diversity and treating each person with dignity.

We the People will reawaken the heart of America by lighting a fire of character within our souls and realigning our nation's moral compass.

We the People will reawaken the heart of America through hearts of compassion, especially toward those who are marginalized, abandoned and without hope.

We the People will reawaken the heart of America by committing ourselves to moral courage that inspires the right choices.

We the People will reawaken the heart of America by honoring those who are serve in the military and all who have given the ultimate sacrifice for this nation.

A moving moment of the ceremony took place during its conclusion when, in unison before hundreds of inspired witnesses, the graduates proudly proclaimed the Law Enforcement Officers Code:

1. I am an American Law Enforcement Officer – a protector of the greatest Nation on earth, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
2. I will treat others with dignity and respect, and expect others to do the same.
3. I will honor my Country, my department, and my fellow law enforcement officers, by living the Essex County College Police Academy values.
4. No matter what situation I am in, I will never do anything for pleasure, profit or personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my department, or my country.
5. Lastly, I am proud of my Country and its flag. I want to look back and say that I am proud to have served my Country, as a law enforcement officer.

Congratulations to the graduates of the Essex County College Police Academy Basic Police Officer's Class 09-1 for their achievement as they are sent forth to represent the highest ideals of being an American.

GRADUATE	DEPARTMENT
Bell, Rakem	West Orange PO
Brienza, Gia	Alternate Route
Cromartie, Nathaniel	EC Sheriff's Office
DeRosa, Christopher	West Orange PO
Haase, Jason	EC Sheriff's Office
Kral, Jeffrey	Alternate Route
Manley, Daniel	Glen Ridge PO
Marone, John	West Orange PO
Martinez, Jorge	Alternate Route
Marzullo, Gerardo	EC Sheriff's Office
Megaro, Christian	EC Sheriff's Office
Novak, Charles	NJ Transit PO
O'Toole, Robert	West Orange PO
Paye, Neumen	West Orange PO
Ruane, Robert	EC Sheriff's Office
Ryals, Ozie	EC Sheriff's Office
Salogiannis, Dimitrios	Alternate Route
Shutz, Keri	Alternate Route
Tripodi, Patrick	EC Sheriff's Office
Wachterhauser, Scott	NJ Transit PO
Zavistoski, Brian	Alternate Route

Massive New Jersey Corruption Bust: A Crisis of Character

For many years I have addressed the issue of a crisis of character in articles, blogs, and presentations, as well as in my newest book Listen To Their Cries. But on Thursday, July 23, 2009 the pervasiveness of moral decay exuded a suffocating stench in the state of New Jersey for all law abiding citizens struggling to make ends meet during this economic crisis.

At a press conference in Newark on the day of the arrests, Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun said, "We hope that our actions today will be the clarion call that prompts significant change in the way business and politics are conducted in the state of New Jersey. Those who engage in this culture of corruption should know the cross hairs of justice will continue to be focused on them."

According to a Department of Justice Press Release posted on the Federal Bureau of Investigation Newark website, the arrests were based on a two track investigation of political corruption and International Money Laundering Rings which led to the arrest of 44 individuals. Tragically, these individuals are in positions of trust demanding the highest levels of dedication to their communities such as mayors, assemblymen, political operatives and even rabbis. These individuals violated their oaths of public office and desecrated the very faith they profess.

Reprinted from the FBI Newark Website
Department of Justice Press Release
July 23, 2009

http://newark.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2009/nk072309.htm

Among those charged in criminal Complaints are:

• Peter Cammarano III, the newly elected mayor of Hoboken and an attorney, charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes, including $10,000 last Thursday, from an undercover cooperating witness.
• L. Harvey Smith, a New Jersey Assemblyman and recent mayoral candidate in Jersey City, charged along with an aide of taking $15,000 in bribes to help get approvals from high-level state agency officials for building projects.
• Daniel Van Pelt, a New Jersey Assemblyman, charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
• Dennis Elwell, mayor of Secaucus, charged with taking a $10,000 cash bribe.
• Anthony Suarez, mayor of Ridgefield and an attorney, charged with agreeing to accept a $10,000 corrupt cash payment for his legal defense fund.
• Louis Manzo, the recent unsuccessful challenger in the Jersey City mayoral election and former state Assemblyman, and his brother and political advisor Robert Manzo, both with taking $27,500 in corrupt cash payments for use in Louis Manzo’s campaign.
• Leona Beldini, the Jersey City deputy mayor and a campaign treasurer, charged with taking $20,000 in conduit campaign contributions and other self-dealing in her official capacity.
• Eliahu Ben Haim, of Long Branch, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, N.J., charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
• Saul Kassin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., the chief rabbi of a synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
• Edmund Nahum, of Deal, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
• Mordchai Fish, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a rabbi at a synagogue in Brooklyn, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity. His brother, also a rabbi, was charged as well.

Most of the defendants were arrested early this morning by a large contingent of federal agents, led by Special Agents of the FBI Newark Division and IRS Criminal Investigation Division (See addendum of defendants, charges and arrest status). Court-authorized search warrants were also being executed approximately 20 locations in New Jersey and New York, to recover, among other things, large sums of cash and other evidence of criminal conduct. Additionally, 28 seizure warrants were being executed against bank accounts in the names of the money laundering defendants and entities they control.

One criminal Complaint charges a Brooklyn man, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, with conspiring to broker the sale of a human kidney for a transplant, at a cost of $160,000 to the transplant recipient. According to the Complaint, Rosenbaum said he had been brokering the sale of kidneys for 10 years.

Perhaps my response to these latest headlines of shameful corruption is best expressed through the words of an article of mine entitled America's Resolve in a New Era of Leadership published in 2006:

Moral outrage in a calm, demanding and persevering manner must be the order of the day and America must respond with a new resolution to leadership; highlighted by character, to expedite transformation from a culture of corruption to the ideals of service and dedication to community. America need only reflect retrospectively on the leadership and events of its noble past to be reignited with the call of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, "this generation has a rendezvous with destiny."

Abraham Lincoln is admired as a leader with masterful communication and persuasion skills. Lincoln developed these skills by keenly understanding the philosopher Aristotle's Treatise on Rhetoric which explains a leader's ability to persuade as: "Persuasion is only achieved by means of a moral character that renders the speaker worthy of confidence. Credibility is the most powerful means of persuasion."

If only the character of Abraham Lincoln were truly taken to heart by those in authority, life would ultimately be transformed within American society. Messages are more often heard and followed when the communicator is understood to be honest, sincere and truly concerned about others.

READ MORE

USDOJ 23-JUL-2009 Press Release	Click here to visit site
America's Resolve in a New Era of Leadership	Click here to visit site

National Night Out: Police and Community Partnerships

On Tuesday, August 4, 2009, communities throughout America gathered to celebrate National Night Out a police & community partnership initiative. At the request of the Livingston, New Jersey Police Department, I was invited to share remarks during the opening ceremony with Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dowd, Police Chief Craig Handschuch, Township Manager Michele Meade, Mayor Charles August and Police Officer Gary Mankowitz. Officer Mankowitz coordinated this first National Night Out for Livingston with true professionalism.

As a crime prevention specialist, I have been privileged to participate in and encourage involvement with National Night Out celebrations for the last 15 years. I first experienced this event at the invitation of Patrick Fay, retired Lt. from the Hackensack Police Department in New Jersey. For many years while managing a private security company, I would send a team of employees to meet the Hackensack Community and to fingerprint children so their parents could have these records as a safety measure.

Last night's event—held at the spacious fields of Livingston High School—was remarkably successful and attended by thousands of Livingston residents as well as people from throughout Essex County and New Jersey. These included families, law enforcement agencies, first responders and the generous businesses who donated time, foods, refreshments and prizes for hundreds of children.

Reprinted from the National Night Out website

http://www.nationalnightout.org/nno/about.html

National Night Out is America's Night Out Against Crime designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

The Livingston Police department, especially Chief Handschuch, Officer Mankowitz and the entire community policing unit is to be commended for their first National Night Out which enhanced police–community partnerships and gave Livingston families a night to remember.