I would think so. I certainly don't see any issues.
LOOKING AHEAD, Gottlieb has been VERY involved in this case and, at times, has been called the lead investigator. Himan is as green as they come and he has very limited experience. In fact, Gottlieb's experience was supposed to offset Himan's short record. Here's what the N&O said some time ago about Himan before pointing to all the experience Gottlieb has:
"Himan, who joined the force in 2002, has arrested suspected vandals, shoplifters and drunken drivers during his work patrolling the streets."
Vandals and shoplifters? He JUST became a detective two months before the Duke Party ! It's obvious that Gottlieb had to do a lot of the heavy lifting because Himan has a paltry 2 months experience as a detective. The N&O called Himan a Novice.
In fact, the case Himan worked on before the Duke case was an investigation of missing WeedWackers in Durham - I kid you not!
Not only did Gottlieb Run the Lineup that was used to secure indictments, but Gottlieb is the one that had possession of the DNA evidence - all of it! The Chain of Custody with DNA evidence is something that is attested to in court:
"Durham Police Department Sgt. M.D. Gottlieb delivered DNA samples taken from 46 members of the Duke men's lacrosse team to the State Bureau of Investigation Monday afternoon, District Attorney Mike Nifong said."
http://www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2006/03/28/News/Unrest.Hits.Main.West-1751307.shtml?norewrite200607250140&sourcedomain=www.dukechronicle.com
Here are some quotes on Gottlieb regarding the Duke investigation prior to his Dukes of Hazard bad-guy audition in Raleigh:
"Sgt. Mark Gottlieb, the SUPERVISOR OF THE INVESTIGATION, refused to answer questions Wednesday night."
http://www.newsobserver.com/215/story/438305.html
"Clayton, who is working under Gottlieb on the case, picked up Elmostafa on Wednesday afternoon."
http://www.newsobserver.com/215/story/438305.html
"Police did go to the local NBC station and ask for copies of the photographs. Nannette Wilson, vice president for news at WNCN-TV, confirms that Gottlieb called one of the station's reporters on April 20, the day after the photos aired on their newscast and copies were posted on the Web. He asked whether they had unaltered versions that had not been cropped and without the faces of the accuser and partygoers blurred. She told them that they did not. The
photos came electronically and already altered from the network.
Dan Abrams, who hosts an MSNBC legal affairs program, made an on-air invitation to Gottlieb to come on the show."
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/434410.html
"Sgt. Mark Gottlieb: Gottlieb, who has been with the Durham Police Department since 1992, is the IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR in the investigation. He previously supervised a squad of a dozen officers on patrol in neighborhoods north of downtown and has worked as a domestic violence investigator."
http://www.newsobserver.com/215/story/430110.html
"Gottlieb, the SUPERVISOR in the investigation, said Thursday that he was not in a position to speak about the case. He stood inside the Durham police crime lab about 4 p.m. as carloads of young men rolled to 213 Broadway St. in downtown Durham."
http://www.newsobserver.com/1185/story/421494.html
"Gottlieb described the party as a mix of college students and nonstudents. In total, there were about 30 people there at the time, he said.
"It was an act where alcohol was involved," Gottlieb said."
http://www.newsobserver.com/215/story/419794.html
Gottlieb also questioned the lacrosse players - including David Evans.