We don't pretend to know the truth behind AG Cuomo's investigation of an alleged rogue political unit in the state police, requested by Gov. Paterson some weeks ago after complaints from legislators and a couple of stories in the NYPost.
But a suicide certainly focuses the mind.
Inspector Gary Berwick (left) hanged himself last Thursday in the garage of his home in Orange County, as investigators were looking to question him. Berwick had been the head of Gov. Pataki's detail, a successor to and associate of Daniel Wiese, a central figure in the probe who now works for the Power Authority. Berwick also was a top aide to former Superintendent Preston Felton, who is under scrutiny in a separate internal affairs investigation of how Gov. Spitzer managed to meet with prostitutes while he was guarded by a state police detail. Both matters were reportedly referred to, without any admission of wrongdoing, in a suicide note.
Berwick's funeral was yesterday. According to this account in the NYPost, his priest said Berwick had told him he did nothing wrong. People usually tell the truth to their priests. But people who are innocent don't commit suicide. But people's minds are complicated, and simple stress can push a totally separate set of problems out of balance. So, you don't know what to think.
The eulogy was delivered by Pataki, who has said there was no rogue unit under him. Paterson was not there. The priest said they would not have been welcomed by Berwick's widow. So, apparently, there is some bitterness.
Meanwhile, the Cuomo probe goes forward, with regular updates from various "sources" about the latest grand jury subpoenas etc. And Wiese, the central figure, is now pushing back -- offering to undergo lie detectors. Stories here and here.
But there's lots of smoke. With a guy dead, you have to hope they find some important fire somewhere. If it all proves to be about political grudges and political paranoia more than real crimes, it won't do much credit to anyone involved.
Comments (1)
"People who are innocent don't commit suicide"
Excuse me???
Are you saying that because I attempted suicide, I must be guilty of something?
Maybe I'm missing some sort of nuance. Maybe you meant that people who commit suicide when they're under investigation usually aren't innocent.
But you didn't say that.
This post is utterly offensive.
People who attempt to commit suicide are typically already self-loathers. You don't need to add to it by implying that we're also guilty.