Police are investigating the sexual hazing incidents that led to the firing of St. Patrick-St. Vincent football coach Chris Cerbone, and to the expulsion of five students.
Vallejo Police Lt. Jim O’Connell told the Vallejo Times-Herald “the investigation has just started, and is ongoing.”
To read more about the . It's somewhat graphic.
Coach Cerbone was not involved with the hazing, but Principal Mary Ellen Ryan said in a statement that he bears responsibility because he was the person in charge when the incidents took place.
Many Patch readers commented on our original story, suggesting that by Ryan's logic, she too bears responsibility since she's hold authority over the whole school.
"This is a travesty!" said one commenter. "The head coach should be reinstated, the principal should resign and the asst. coach should be fired. Charges should be brought against the predators and the asst. coach! Enough is enough!"
Others said the matter needs to be investigated by police, which is exactly what's happening now. We'll follow the story as it plays out.
As for the word "hazing," you make a good point. This does sound worse than that word implies. But "sexual hazing" specifies things a bit. Doesn't sound quite as "boys will be boys" in my opinion.
Now read your closing statement: "Doesn't sound quite as "boys will be boys" in my opinion". Remind me not to call you as a witness for me, when I land in hot water!!!
By YOUR logic, all of the perpetrators could have reported it together to obtain immunity to punishment. Had the coach fulfilled his primary responsibility, the incident could not have happened in the first place. Ryan has dozens of classrooms and hundreds of children in her charge. She fulfilled her responsibility quite effectively by completing a thorough investigation and firing Cerbone. But perhaps you feel that OUR kids would be so much safer if Cerbone returns to HIS old position and his old habits of supervision. If something goes wrong again, then he just has to be first to report it to be granted immunity and to keep his job. Over and over. Hmmm. That is YOUR shallow logic. We clear thinkers would feel safer leaving our kids with someone other than that coach. Regardless of whether it was reported by him, or a child, or an anonymous lette,he failed our school and the entire community in the worst way. He was derelict and failed those children. OUR children.
Now, I read that one of the victims complained to an assistant coach, and that assistant failed to respond. THAT person IS directly responsible, and failed to intervene/respond; I think that THAT person should be fired, absolutely. But the head coach? I guess the question might be: what was the head coach doing while this was happening? if he was legitimately attending other players elsewhere, then it's reasonable that he expected his assistants to be in charge and not let such things occur. If he was napping or something, well maybe... but since HE is the one who reported the incident when he became aware, I doubt that... Based on the details of these articles, my opinion is NO, I don't think firing the head coach was appropriate.
"GOTCHA....YOU CAN'T OUT FOX A FOX!!!
I hope you are not suggesting that a teacher can allow abuse to take place in his own classroom by simply telling everyone that the principal is to blame because the principal's name is on the door. And the only reason this would go to court is if Cerbone himself believes that reporting the incident makes his behavior and his inaction harmless.
Let's ask a question: What if by chance (fact) this coach was not fired because of this incident? What if this incident was the preverbal "straw which broke the camels back?" Hmmmm. Here are some facts: 1. The parents were about to go the principle with a petition to fire him for his "Lack of Coaching and respect for the players". 2. In 5 months the coach completely alienated himself from the faculty. 3. The main reason why those players were unsupervised, was because the coach fired ALL of the JV coaches. Instead of the 11 or so coaches, for the total program, which had been on staff, there were only 5. Oh, by the way, the reason why they were fired... There played for the previous coach. 4. The coach NEVER took responsibility for his actions... He openly blamed and embarrassed the players when they lost; he blamed the principle and everyone else because he lost his job. 5. It's been said that none of the present coaches were coming back if he was to remain the HC. For a short list, it is clear, that while this was a horrible event, the dismissal of this coach was far beyond this event.