But..but...you can’t call 9-1-1 based on hearsay. /s
(You are absolutely correct. But people who have absolutely no concept of the application of the rules of evidence right here on FR have actually said that! They actually believe that if person A tells person B that a crime is has been committed, person B has no right to contact law enforcement.)
You legalistic defense in unimpressive. Paterno was the law in his shower rooms. He didn’t need a court order to tell Sandusky that he wasn’t welcome there.
Of course one has “the right” to call 911 (or the local TV station or post a comment or fly a banner from a plane) and, depending on circumstances, the police might even pursue it, but hearsay evidence is not admissible in court.
And if it turns out that your hearsay is false, at least two of those options could land you on the wrong side of the judge’s bench.
And I repeat: Joe Paterno reported what he was told to the police. (Maybe I need to fly a banner!)