The Operation Phoenix molestation scandal is getting more and more shocking with each passing day.  A couple of days ago, we learned via Robert Rogers on the SB Now blog that it took SBPD investigators five weeks to investigate at least one former city employee about a pornographic photo shoot at one of the city's recreation centers.

Given that this is an ongoing investigation into alleged child molestation, one would think that investigators would immediately question any and all individuals depicted in pornographic pictures at a city owned center with an unidentified female of an undetermined age on a camera in the possession of the alleged molester!

I mean, one would think. 

It is clear based on today's article that investigators were concerned enough about the female's age that they asked the terminated employee to provide proof of the woman's age.  This is shocking.  We know that there were enough concerns to warrant verification of age, yet, investigators took five weeks to interview the persons involved.

On top of that, we are told that Mike Miller himself was the photographer.

This is Operation Phoenix, a scandal that has rocked the city and Mayor Morris' administration.  One would logically assume that only the most veteran of detectives would be assigned to such a high profile case.

What is now new to the story is that two city officials, Councilman Neil Derry and City Attorney Jim Penman, both approached San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos to express their concerns about a possible cover up or stalling of the investigation.

This is amazing.  Councilman Neil Derry states: "I was told internally by people in the Police Department that they were ordered not to investigate (the photos),"

The Sun reports:

When asked why it took more than five weeks to interview a man photographed in sexually explicit situations by an accused molester, a police spokesman, Lt. Scott Paterson, offered no explanation.

It should be noted that Lt. Scott Paterson is the lieutenant overseeing the investigation.  It is amusing to note that although Chief Billdt and Lt. Scott Paterson have continually refused to comment citing an "ongoing investigation" or "personnel matter", Paterson emphatically denied there was any political influence on the investigation.  He said such accusations were "balderdash"!

It seems to me that if there wasn't any political meddling on the part of Mayor Morris & Company or Chief Billdt, it is an indictment on the poor performance of those overseeing the investigation.  Again, how can anyone honestly explain a five week delay in questioning what would seem to be an incredibly pertinent and germaine set of witnesses and circumstances?