Cops: Former chief knew of Fine claims

By foxsports
Published

The Syracuse police chief says the former Syracuse University basketball player who was police chief in 2002 knew of sexual abuse allegations against an assistant coach.

Police Chief Frank Fowler says Dennis DuVal, who played for the Orange from 1972-74, was aware of Bobby Davis' accusations in 2002 that Bernie Fine sexually abused him. Fine, who has been fired, denies the allegations.

Because Davis said the abuse stopped 12 years earlier, Syracuse Det. Doug Fox told him the statute of limitations had passed, meaning an arrest was not possible. Fox advised his supervisor in the abused persons unit but didn't file a formal report.

A phone message left with DuVal was not immediately returned.

Fowler says police will now formally document all reports of sexual abuse.