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."
Massachusetts. Norfolk County. A stone's throw from Foxboro....Southwest of Boston.
I don't think that there are enough RUDY/2008 supporters here to classify the whole site as left wing.
Most of us are still conservative.
;-)
Oh my God! All this time I've been posting to a left-wing website?
LOL! MSM can't even spell!
It's been pulled?
Place mark
LOL! This is one seriously ate up article.
freedom of speech, until you disagree
Haha! Next time you go to Mass, you'd better have made plans to stay a long time!
"Regardless of the reason for, or the duration of, your life's intersection with Wrentham, we sincerely hope that you feel the warmth, generosity, and kindness of our people, the vigor of our uniquely New England form of democracy, the satisfaction we get from conserving the gentle beauty of our meadows, woodlands, lakes, and streams, and the simple joy that derives from being part of it all. It is New England pure and simple."
Wow! Makes me want to roll some buds and have a "Walden Pond" sort of moment.
LOL!
Bonus points for that post.
Later ping
Bill laddy buck, ya can stay in my cellar until this blows over. Massachusetts will never extradite for open and gross public mockery.
Sounds like a small town "The Donald" and Rosie cat fight, doesn't it?
One would think they would elect people who speak with correct grammer. Select woman Firth needs to go back to Jr high to learn to speak properly.
Is she illiterate as well as thin-skinned?!
Wrentham's got a nice outlet mall.
Oooh ya! A great place to go for a nice long walk. The prices aren't all that exciting but you can find deals if you know where to look. But it sure is a great day out.
Translation: It'll take you 25 years, $50,000 and endless meetings with the "Environmental Committee" to get a building permit anywhere in Wrentham.
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