Posted on 03/23/2006 1:37:53 PM PST by Idisarthur
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Racist, sexist and disparaging comments on a Montgomery County police union Web site have some police officers calling on union and department officials to take steps to curb the name-calling.
Some officers complain that the union has refused to require officers to identify themselves on the web site, a step they say would lead to more civil discussions. Commanders, meanwhile, could restrict access to the site from department computers.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc4.com ...
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One series of postings in January started with discussion about a sign at a district station, but quickly turned to the county's growing Hispanic population.
"Half of the district NO HABLA!!!! COMPRENDE??" an officer identified as "4D" wrote in one post.
"HALF, TRY 90 PERCENT . . . BEANERS GO HOME," another poster responded later, using the screen name "SE HABLA AWE SCREW IT, HANDS UP PACO."
The county, adjacent to the nation's capital, is one of the most affluent in the country with nearly 60 percent adults with a college education, half its workforce in white collar, managerial positions and a median income of more than $66,000 a year. At the same time, it has a fast-growing immigrant population.
A series of posts in February started by an officer looking for "a good painter that would be cheap" also disparaged Hispanics.
"In 20 years you'll have 150 channels of Telemundo, and you'll be paying for English-language channels -- and you'll be at the day laborer center, waiting for a pick-up," one post read.
Others involved a black officer involved in what the officer said was a misunderstanding of an episode in which she believed a fellow officer did not follow proper procedure. The officer's husband, the department's former diversity training teacher who was brought in following allegations of racial profiling, also was the subject of abuse on the site.
"If you treat your brothers and sisters like this," said Detective Terry Ridgley, president of the department's black officers association, "how can we expect you to treat members of the community with respect?"
Police Chief Thomas Manger said he was disappointed by the postings, which he attributed to a handful of employees.
"I know it does not reflect 99 percent of our employees," Manger said. "I will not tolerate any unlawful or improper conduct by any police department employee in the course of their duties."
Such message boards have become popular in recent years, said Chip DeBlock, a detective with the Tampa Police Department who started www.leoaffairs.com. The site hosts more than 150 message boards for law enforcement communities, getting more than 4 million hits per month, DeBlock said.
The discussions on the various boards are kept civil with the help of 150 volunteer moderators, DeBlock said.
Inflammatory postings have also led to suspensions or firings in Baltimore, New York, Detroit and Washington. In the District of Columbia, 24 officers were suspended after an investigation into the use of squad car computers to send offensive or threatening e-mail.
Walter Bader, president of Montgomery County's Fraternal Order of Police lodge, said some of the messages could have been posted by nonunion members who have hacked into the site.
"We don't censor it, we don't actively monitor it," Bader said. "It's free speech, it's 2006, it's technology. I don't agree with some of what I see on there. I don't think people should slander each other. But we're in a free country. We should embrace free speech."
A disgrace? It looks no worse than FR or any political blog out there.
The problem is that the LEOs are posting on a public board inthe most liberal county around, and simply saying what they believe.
Gee, do you think there's no frustration among LEOs with the burgeoning population of illegal aliens in Montgomery County?
Takoma Park was only 20 years ago a working class neighborhood with retirees and houseowners from the WW II era. Now it is a third-world dunghole, and you'll be lucky to find a native English speaker (or any English speaker) there.
Rockville is a really crappy small city. I pity anyone who has to live there.
This tax thief reminds me of those "political officers" in the Soviet Army, who contributed nothing to command, control or logistics, but were there to impart the Party ideology and punish those who strayed from it.
Sounds like the BATF.
So because they might have frustration you think it's wise to let this happen?
But, for the record - this is a third-world dunghole.
Africa
or Brazil
In what city do you live? I bet it's just great, probably flawless. : )
There are too many illegal aliens in Montgomery County, and the police are not allowed to address them problem.
That's what they're saying.
That's disparaging to Hispanics?
Montgomery County - at least they got rid of Chief Moose!
The seeds would be planted (if you will) for some revolt or, worse, cop killing because of stuff like this...
The revolt is a historical issue as we see in LA, Calif. How many cop injuries and killings (even Fire Fighters shot by snipers during the riots) stemmed from animosity - from both sides.
I'm just saying that words are powerful - but use the right ones.
No, right here.... see that?
It's fine to blow off steam. But to do so in public raises questions about the professionalism of the officer(s) blowing off steam.
I thought Takoma Park was filled with hippies and granola types, with the illegals in another part of town.
Montgomery County is a county full of rich people and those that serve them. If you don't like policing in such a place, you should either get a job in Fred-neck county where you likely live or just put up with it.
Illegal immigration is a problem, and the pols in Montgomery and every other country should deputize the police to make arrests for immigration violations. Nevertheless, the Police SERVE THE COUNTY that pays their salary. If the county wants them to make nice with "beaners", they better learn how to deal with it, instead of whining like a bunch of beer bellied yobs on a bulleting board.
If they get themselves deputized by the Feds they can DO something about it instead of talking trash.
Ayup. If I were king, I would arrest the richies who are pinching their pennies by hiring Pacos. They are creating the demand.
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