The shrugged off John Bryan rumors

ST. PETERSBURG - Friends and colleagues of City Councilman John Bryan were shocked by sex abuse allegations that led to his suicide. But not everyone was surprised.

Stories about Bryan's sexual indiscretions had been circulating for nearly two decades. "I heard the rumors, but you never know if someone's out to get him or no," said Bill Dudley, who was in the Northeast Exchange Club with Bryan. "So I never paid much attention to them. You have to take rumors at face value."

More here.

Comments

Anytime you suspect a child is being abused, you should contact immediately your local police at 911, or call the Florida Abuse Registry Hotline at 1 800 962-2873. Let investigators follow up any rumor. It is better to be safe than sorry.

If Bryan had been abusing boys instead of girls, these very men would have aggressively acted. Abuse and exploitation of girls, so commonplace in our society, are usually ignored and put on the back burner.

Bill - I hope if rumors of my sexually
assaulting my daughter for common, that
you would have the judgment not to just
dismiss it.

This is not the kind of judgment that we need in governmental leaders.

Shame on Bill Dudley and others for taking these rumors so lightly. Shame Shame Shame.

Hearing rumors of sex with his CHILD
demands more than dismissing the rumors! Bill, I know you were a wrestling coach, but my God...

As a former teacher, Dudley's shrugging off rumors of suspected child abuse is breathtakingly callous.

I was on the fence between Coach Dudley and Harrelson for city council. As a mother, I think this quote has helped me make my decision.

IM A FORMER STUDENT OF COACHES. HES A GOOD MAN BUT HIS JUDGEMENT NOW WORRIES ME.

When the good old boys network doesn't recgonize when it's time to intervene and help innocent children, then it's time to stop electing them and their cronies to office.

This whole thing keeps getting more disgusting and more unfathomable.

Clean up City Hall.

hey!!!!

he was only fooling around with kids.

they dont vote, do they?

I was first in shock and denial about the allegations, and dealing with the news. Now I am in the anger stage. Anger about lies, deception, and people looking the other way when a man was maybe abusing his daughters.

Margeson, Dudley, all of the people quoted in this article who brag they knew of rumors --but did not report it to authorities ---stink to high hell.

Im Done with Dudley. Im with Monty now.

More-of-the-same-Monty. Don't think so.

Politics - local, state, and nation should NOT "the good ole boys" network folks,that's kinda how our state and nation have gotten into the fix that we're in.

Enron was pulled down because of their "accounting procedures" and its a sad, sad shame when our city, county, state, district and national government is run like a crooked private enterprise. Their gambling with yours, mine and every one else's tax money - you know, the money you earned to see that "good" comes from it - not covering ones buddy's sexual predatory perversions.

It seems very transparent to me that these posts are being written by supporters of Dudley's opponents. But that's alright, because no one else is probably reading and believing them any way!

7:10... This whole John Bryan child abuse episode will be fully investigated. People will be reading about this story for months to come.

If public officials or anyone else didn't report to authorities stories of child sexual abuse, they could even be guilty of a felony offense.

This has nothing to do with politics, it has a lot to do with what is right and what is wrong.

3:39
I do not live in the St. Pete/Tampa area. However, I have worked with abused children.
I find your comment not on not funny, but totally distasteful. That is the type of comment that should be removed from the blog.
Adam, are you out there-----ever???

[Margeson]

3:41............
I tried to get this investigated in 2000, the Times can verify that.....you should talk to the protectors at large....the ones who are "shocked"......Margeson

The duty to report is a serious one; however, it must be based on credible reports, not just rumors flying during a political campaign. If any one out there had good reason to believe the rumors were true, based on real evidence, then they did have a moral, if not legal duty to report.

As an educator, I would have a duty to report suspected abuse if I had a direct report from the student, or from someone who I believed to know the truth. Rumors and reports are two different things. I'm betting there are people out there who did know the truth though, or who at least strongly suspected it, and didn't report. I doubt we'll ever know the facts about that, but I hope the authorities will do their best to ferret the truth out.

[Don in St. Pete]

Why not start at the top? Though he's in total denial now Rick Baker had to have heard the rumours too. The upper echelon of his campaign certainly new as did most of our current City Council and Staff. This stinks but the people who really knew the truth never stepped forward to prevent the ensuing damage. St. Pete officials knew he was going to committ suicide but let him go to his grave without actually revealing who had an Idea or could have made a difference. Sad for the poor abused daughters but a big sigh of relief for the upper echelon at City Hall.

[Mary]

Call it what it is: Trafficking In Persons. "Generally speaking, trafficking in persons refers to actions, often including use of force, fraud, or coercion, to compel someone into a situation in which he or she will be exploited for sexual purposes, which could include prostitution or pornography, or for labor without compensation, which could include forced or bonded labor. The United States is committed to the eradication of human trafficking both domestically and abroad. It is a crime that is an affront to human dignity."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/20030225.html

I agree with the above poster-if young boys were being trafficked in this manner, it would end a LOT sooner!

Women are merely entertainment in our society, right?

All who ignored the rumors, including the Times staff/editors are responsibile for the pain in these young girls' lives.

Your articles do not describe a selfless public servant. They describe (even unintentionally) a power-seeking, self aggrandizing predator.

Why did you ignore it? Ask yourself, was it urgent? Important? That a little girl will be forced to pleasure a big 'ol pig...even if he is a 'powerful political player' and pillar of the community? Who made him the pillar? Who was willing to turn their attention from such a serious crime?

Let me guess, busy chasing the $40K the county over-paid for a stupid piece of property.

Do you realize that you put the value of that damned property above the value of these young girls?

Why?

That's what the girls will ask for the rest of their lives. And, in true form of a cowardly predator who puts his own selfish needs above all else-his life ended with an even more cowardly and self centered act. He will not face his accusers, the public or himself in the mirror. He will not take responsibility for his actions or face any consequences for his actions.

Thankfully, this mom did not ignore the rumors. Thankfully, this mom was courageous enough to step forward. This mom was willing to break the cycle of abuse. Maybe, just maybe those who wish to make ammends for ignoring the rumors or not fully investigating the facts will line up behind this mom and her girls in support of their very difficult decision to come forward.

Maybe the 'powers that be' in downtown St. Petersburg will take a stand and let the next predator among them know that their behavior will NOT BE IGNORED!

Let the next predator know that you will shun them in disdain and they will be ousted from your power lunches, fund-raising events and prayer breakfasts. Perhaps if you would have shunned this one upon hearing his 'dark little secret' he would not have been empowered by your approval of his actions.

Sadly… Bryan was part of a political protection bubble, established by the good ol’ boys and gals here in Pinellas. It is a self, and mutual, protection society that’s has long existed within the political structures in this dirty little county. I’m saddened for his family’s predicament… but cannot say that I’m saddened by his departure from this world.

It doesn’t matter how many of his protectors’ bloviate over his “love” for the city, or the many good things he did while in office… he molested his foster children… and therefore deserves no praise at all. So please’ Jamie Bennett and the rest of you inner-circle butt-kissers… shut up already. You’ll score no political points praising a child molester.

And before you nut jobs start in on the “accusation only” spin… innocent people, falsely accused on child molestation… do not kill themselves.

[Fed up]

"It has been a pleasure to work with one of this city's finest Mayors, and extremely effective City Council, and a truly great city staff ." I love that quote. The scumbag was a pedophile that hated police and raped his own children and he thoguht Baker was the best mayor ever! What does that say about Baker? What deos it say about the rest of the council?

[Kathy]

For all those who stated that you "suspected" but didn't report Bryan to the proper authorities - you'll have to live with this. No use sticking your heads in the sand and/or saying "you tried" because you obviously didn't try hard enough. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem - and it applies BIG TIME in this instance. Point the fingers at yourself, not others, in your feeble attempt to wash your hands and justify your positions.

[robert]

His trips to thailand say it all. Teenage girls were his fetis.
His first wife liked Nannys.

He isn’t the only one with this issue sitting in public office here in Pinellas.

8:29...Report him at Florida Abuse Hotline 1-800-96-ABUSE, don't tell us on this blog.

http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/