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Thursday, January 27, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: SALVATION ARMY OFFICERS
SAY MOLESTER WAS A THREAT 





Salvation Army officers say molester was a threat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A civil suit filed by parents of four boys who were molested by &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Gary Hallock between 1986 and &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 1990 blames the Salvation ArmyTwo people who worked with &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hallock testified they knew of his tendencies since the '70s &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By TOM OBRZUT JR. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader Staff Writer &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 SCRANTON -- Two Salvation Army officers testified Wednesday in a sexual
abuse trial that they knew fellow officer Gary Hallock was a threat to
children as long ago as 1972. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Maj. Richard Shaffstall took the stand on the first day of the Lackawanna
County trial, while Capt. James Blackhurst provided his testimony by
deposition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ronald and Carol Petroziello of Scranton contend in their civil suit that
their four sons would not have been among Hallock's 35 victims if Hallock had
been dismissed when his pedophilia became known to his superiors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In March 1991, Hallock pleaded guilty to sexually abusing the four
Petroziello boys and three other Scranton-area children between 1986 and 1990.
He is serving 36 to 72 years in a medium-security state prison in Bellefonte. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hallock confessed to sex crimes against 35 children over 19 years, but the
statute of limitations for prosecution had run out in most of the cases. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Petroziellos are seeking more than $20 million in damages from the
Salvation Army due to Hallock's sexual abuse of their sons at the agency's
center in Scranton between 1989 and 1990. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Throughout the proceedings Wednesday, the Petroziellos sat next to each
other, sometimes holding hands as their attorney, Michael Cefalo, and his
associates built their case. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shaffstall testified that his wife told him Hallock had tried to molest
their 10-year-old son shortly after Hallock arrived in Braddock, Pa., in July
1971. Shaffstall said he threw Hallock against a wall and told him if he ever
touched another child, "I'd break every bone in his body." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shaffstall also testified that he reported the incident involving his son
to Norman Sampson, commander of the Western Pennsylvania Division of the
Salvation Army, based in Pittsburgh. He called Sampson and wrote a follow-up
letter, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Either treat him or dismiss him," he said he wrote in the letter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shaffstall forbade Hallock to have any contact with children, he testified,
and assigned Hallock to drive the van used to pick up senior citizens and
groceries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After serving three months in Braddock, Hallock was transferred in~ October
1971 to Huntingdon in central Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Shaffstall called Blackhurst, the commanding officer at Huntingdon, and
told him not to let Hallock associate with children, he testified. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Blackhurst's testimony was entered by deposition because the captain
couldn't attend the trial. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Blackhurst testified he didn't know of Hallock's past, and both arrived in
Huntingdon about the same time. The two often traveled together to Pittsburgh
to visit their girlfriends, Blackhurst said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several months later, Blackhurst wrote to Sampson and said, "Gary Hallock
would be a good leader. He's pleasant and cordial." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The letter was sent, Blackhurst testified, before Hallock admitted to
Blackhurst that he had molested a 12-year-old boy. Hallock told Blackhurst
that his "problem" began when he was molested by his older brothers when he
was younger, Blackhurst testified. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Blackhurst recommended to Salvation Army officials that Hallock receive
professional help. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In March 1972, Hallock entered a therapy program in Pittsburgh but dropped
out after a few sessions, telling his commanders that his doctors left future
therapy up to him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Testimony resumes at 9:30 a.m. today before Judge Carlon O'Malley.

Salvation Army Officers Say Molester Was A Threat 
A Civil Suit Filed By Parents Of 
Four Boys Who Were Molested By 
Gary Hallock Between 1986 And 
1990 Blames The Salvation Army.

Salvation Army Officers Say Molester Was A Threat A Civil Suit Filed By Parents Of Four Boys Who Were Molested By Gary Hallock Between 1986 And 1990 Blames The Salvation Army.