Freepin Kerry on Route 1 for Pats game this weekend ^
Posted by guinnessboy .. 10/13/2004
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."
guinnessboy has no posts on Feb. 23, 2005. Huh.
Sorry.. more than likely the Wussies took it down!
A very funny read regarding political correctness and the liberal version of "freedom of speech". Try googling
State Senator Scott Brown.
Well I think Frith is an idiot.
Oh my god! Is she gonna sue me?
Freepin Kerry on Route 1 for Pats game this weekend ^
Posted by guinnessboy .. 10/13/2004
That's what I was thinking. A whine 2 years old. How do these people get and keep their jobs?
Oh, the humanity.
In New England a selectman is a county board member. Sometimes cities will have selectmen again these are like city councilmen in other parts the country.
>>"They were making fun of John Zizza and Mary Dunn and me," said Selectwoman Jennifer Firth
Well, at least she didn't say "myself". That particular misusage drives me nuts, and is extremely common.
Maybe they were talking about Free Public.
Assuming that this is a typo, and that the reporters really meant to type this site's address, then it sounds like someone has fallen victim to a toolbar exploit. These redirect the victim's browser to a "search" page that shows ads placed there by the hacker's clients. If this is the case, then the reporters ought to write a story on the subject. This would be a more interesting story than one about some city council boobs whining about what a web page says about them.
Mark for tommorrow
Place marker--have to read this again in the morning to see some more replies made in the "chat room".
They must have clicked onto a Rudy thread.
Bwaaahahahahahaaaaa!! Good one!
Of course she didn't say "myself" in that context!
The Three Stooges was apparently "over her head"!
Jennifer Firth, John Zizza, and Mary Dunn are a bunch of bucked-tooth morons.
I'm having a hard time with understanding this story. Am I missing something, or are they really this stupid? Referring some Internet chat critical of public figures to the district attorney for action? Are they kidding?
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