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Wrentham Chief Seeks Blog Probe (of Free Republic )
The Sun Chronicle ^ | Friday, February 9, 2007 | Michael Gelbwasser and Stephen Peterson

Posted on 02/09/2007 8:13:33 PM PST by kristinn

WRENTHAM - Police Chief Joseph Collamati has asked Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating to investigate allegations a town police officer may have posted information on an Internet blog critical of selectmen.

Collamati said Thursday the allegations, discussed in open session by selectmen at the end of their meeting Tuesday night, "demeans the reputation of everybody here" in the police department.

The police chief wants the district attorney's office to conduct an independent investigation.

"Quite frankly, I was a little disturbed by the allegations. I don't think they're true," Collamati said. "The officers of the Wrentham police department feel their character has been assassinated."

Collamati said individuals calling themselves "Little Bill" and "Guinness Boy" made the negative comments on a blog on Feb. 23, 2005.

The blog's address, www.freepublic.com/focus/f-news, now leads to MegaGo.com, which offers a "one click search" of keywords.

Collamati said he had done a preliminary look at the text.

"I don't see anything in there that refers to a Wrentham police officer, but politics does strange things," Collamati said.

Selectmen say they heard a police officer had used the name "Guinness Boy," but hadn't confirmed that.

"They were making fun of John Zizza and Mary Dunn and me," said Selectwoman Jennifer Firth, who raised the issue at the selectmen's meeting at the urging of board member Richard Dion. "It was concerning the election" of April 2005, and ideas being bantered about on how to unseat Greg Pazurchek.

Pazurchek ended up being defeated by George Labonte, who has a relative on the police department. Firth, who had been on the board since before 2005, won another term last year. Dunn and Zizza were selectmen during 2005.

Labonte pointed out at the selectmen's meeting that anybody can say they are anyone on a blog.

Firth called the Internet site a "political blog written on a left wing Web site, Free Republic," which included a chat room.

Firth said she has no problem with referral of the case to the district attorney's office.

"We certainly welcome him to do so, and file any complaint he would like to," Firth said of the police chief.

Information about the blog text was left anonymously at the selectmen's office, and that was forwarded by Dunn to Collamati for investigation, Firth said.

The matter was later discussed by selectmen in closed session.

Firth said Dion, who resigned at the end of the selectmen's meeting for personal reasons, wanted the blog issue discussed in open session against her wishes.

"There was no reason to put it in a public political forum," Firth said, adding she questions the credibility of blogs. "I thought it was inappropriate. You don't know who the people are who are actually chatting."

Selectmen and police officers have not had a smooth a relationship in recent years, and that worsened with budget reductions this fiscal year that led to layoffs of two patrolmen, one position of which has been restored.

There has also been controversy over improving public safety communications coverage in the west end.

In recent months, selectmen have discussed accountability and discipline procedures of police officers and firefighters with Collamati and Fire Chief Robert Morrill, but there have been no serious problems with the rank and file.

"I greatly respect the police department and think they are doing a great job for the town," Firth said. "I have nothing negative to say."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: chatroom; collamati; gelbwasser; gregpazurchek; imconfused; jenniferfirth; johnzizza; marydunn; pazurchek; peoplesrepublictown; richarddion; stephenpeterson; sunchronicle; williamkeating; wrentham; zizza
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To: kristinn

"a left wing Web site, Free Republic"
---

One has to ask why a left wing site would have the word 'free' in it, because liberalism is not about freedom, it is about control backed up by the threat of force.


121 posted on 02/09/2007 10:12:02 PM PST by traviskicks (http://www.neoperspectives.com/Ron_Paul_2008.htm)
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To: conservative in nyc

Sounds like they are making much a due about nothing

Do they really think everyone in that town likes them?

They need to grow a thicker skin


122 posted on 02/09/2007 10:13:09 PM PST by Mo1 ( http://www.gohunter08.com)
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To: kristinn

Appropriately enough, one of the writers' last names is Gelbwasser, which means "yellow water" in German.


123 posted on 02/09/2007 10:14:47 PM PST by darkangel82 (Socialism is NOT an American value.)
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To: mdittmar

yeah, Wrentham. I was born next door in Franklin.


124 posted on 02/09/2007 10:15:27 PM PST by RonF
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To: kristinn

Left wing????

This bloke wouldn't know his arse from his elbow!!!!


125 posted on 02/09/2007 10:19:49 PM PST by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
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To: kristinn
"made the negative comments on a blog"

Quick, call out the SS officers! /s

LOL I can see how any intelligent person would feel the need to comment on such uninformed and prissy politicians... Apparently they've never heard of free speech.

126 posted on 02/09/2007 10:23:13 PM PST by Libertina
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To: Tarheel
There may be counties in Mass that utilize selectmen, but that's not their usual habitat. Selectmen are local (small town), much as councilmen are city (larger, urban areas).

As is sometimes their wont, these small-town "big-wigs" are making asses of themselves, and it's doubtful they'll know when to cut their loses.

Stay tuned and be entertained!

CA....
127 posted on 02/09/2007 10:23:57 PM PST by Chances Are (Whew! It seems I've once again found that silly grin!)
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To: conservative in nyc
>>The Sun Chronicle reporters mentioned keywords because the URL the newspaper typed into its browser, www.freepublic.com/focus/f-news, redirects you to MegaGo.com, one of those fake Internet search engine site that uses keywords. Freepublic.com isn't Freerepublic.com.<<

Thanks for that response. I missed the difference in spelling and now that I've read your post I see what you mean about the search engine keywords... Isn't this right outside Boston? Lord knows what it takes to be considered left wing up there...

The last time I was visiting M.I.T. the people I was with were shocked to discover I didn't set aside a budget to give to pan handlers (not that I give to the church and donate to charity but the concept of budgeting in order to not be harassed by what appear to professional pan handlers never occurred to me.)
128 posted on 02/09/2007 10:27:03 PM PST by gondramB (It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.)
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To: kristinn
"political blog written on a left wing Web site, Free Republic,"

Left Wing? And I'm the next King of England!


129 posted on 02/09/2007 10:27:25 PM PST by JaguarXKE
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To: kristinn
[Police Chief Joseph Collamati has asked Norfolk County District Attorney William Keating to investigate allegations a town police officer may have posted information on an Internet blog critical of selectmen.]

"Do you have your papers?"

130 posted on 02/09/2007 10:34:16 PM PST by Mad_Tom_Rackham (I don't have any reason to be cynical, but...)
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To: gondramB
Wrentham is in between Boston and Providence, near Foxboro (where the Patriots play). They have a Republican State Senator, who used to be a town Selectman - so the place can't be as liberal as the rest of the Commonwealth - not that that's saying much. It's not Cambridge.
131 posted on 02/09/2007 10:34:35 PM PST by conservative in nyc
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To: kristinn

Can you tell me where I may find the chat room, senior?

132 posted on 02/09/2007 10:37:58 PM PST by Bronzewound
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To: kristinn

Hahahaha! Thanks for the evening entertainment!

These chowderheads would probably also think that the Declaration of Independence was slander against King George. They really don't 'get' the fact that insulting politicians or government is protected speech of the highest order. If it wasn't, let's just say that Free(Re)public would have been shut down long before even Kerry started campaigning. I recommend these Selectmen take a flight to Cuba or China where they will their attempted censorship at least has a chance. Nobody can insult the integrity of a politician in either of those places. They'll feel right at home.


133 posted on 02/09/2007 10:54:11 PM PST by burzum (Despair not! I shall inspire you by charging blindly on!--Minsc, BG2)
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To: burzum
I recommend these Selectmen take a flight to Cuba or China where they will their attempted censorship at least has a chance.

Ugg, bad edit.

134 posted on 02/09/2007 10:55:58 PM PST by burzum (Despair not! I shall inspire you by charging blindly on!--Minsc, BG2)
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To: kristinn
"Collamati said individuals calling themselves "Little Bill" and "Guinness Boy" made the negative comments on a blog on Feb. 23, 2005."

There you go "Little Bill" and "Guinness Boy"; you got this think cops all upset and he is going to send their hot shot attorney to make us all think right!

They have us all shaking in our boots now! He's going to show us.
135 posted on 02/09/2007 10:58:51 PM PST by Herakles (Diversity is code word for anti-white racism)
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To: kristinn
...a "political blog written on a left wing Web site, Free Republic,"...
There are going to be some disappointed liberal visitors for the next few days.
136 posted on 02/09/2007 11:10:31 PM PST by philman_36
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To: kristinn; sionnsar; SevenofNine; cripplecreek; JRios1968; NormsRevenge; DuncanWaring; afnamvet; ...

Yo - Chief Joseph Collamati - I gotcher probe - right heeeeerrrreeeee.

137 posted on 02/09/2007 11:12:41 PM PST by Enterprise (Drop pork bombs on the Islamofascist wankers. Praise the Lord and pass the hammunition.)
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To: Enterprise

O-TAY!!!


138 posted on 02/09/2007 11:19:44 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......)
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To: DTogo
Yes, Selectmen.
  1. you select them to tax you
  2. they select which rights don't apply to you
  3. they select who they want to give your property to
  4. they select where to cash their paycheck.

The new nobility.

139 posted on 02/09/2007 11:23:22 PM PST by ApplegateRanch (Islam: a Satanically Transmitted Disease, spread by unprotected intimate contact with the Koranus.)
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To: Calpernia

New England's version of a city council.

They have lots of weird things.


140 posted on 02/09/2007 11:24:27 PM PST by rwfromkansas (http://xanga.com/rwfromkansas)
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