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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
yes. The first amendment freedom of speech is attacked everyday by mindless thugs like these who blaspheme the constitution and shamelessly try to control thought and content without regard to the millions who died to preserve this dieing right.
61 posted on 02/09/2007 8:48:39 PM PST by reflector3
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To: kristinn
Firth called the Internet site a "political blog written on a left wing Web site

Frith is an idiot. The reporter is a bigger idiot. Is there anyone in town that has the intellegence of a marsh toad?

62 posted on 02/09/2007 8:48:52 PM PST by PAR35
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To: Rodney King
Jennifer Firth, John Zizza, and Mary Dunn are a bunch of bucked-tooth morons

You really should apologize for that for two reasons. First, you have insulted buck toothed morons everywhere. Second, they will probably send some jack booted storm troopers after you.

63 posted on 02/09/2007 8:50:38 PM PST by PAR35
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To: kristinn
The blog's address, www.freepublic.com/focus/f-news, now leads to MegaGo.com, which offers a "one click search" of keywords.

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

They must be very proud of their investigative skills. ;-)
64 posted on 02/09/2007 8:50:45 PM PST by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the occupation media.)
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To: FreedomPoster
Well, at least she didn't say "myself". That particular misusage drives me nuts, and is extremely common.

Let's keep that just "between you and I".

65 posted on 02/09/2007 8:52:53 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: freedomfiter2
They must have clicked onto a Rudy thread.

No doubt saw the Rudy haters threatening to vote third party and assumed it was a kook site.

66 posted on 02/09/2007 8:53:35 PM PST by somemoreequalthanothers (All for the betterment of "the state", comrade)
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To: lainie

The article is poorly written. It looks like the police chief wants an investigation to clear his officers; the Selectmen want to go after the police and the reporters want people to think they're really reporters.


67 posted on 02/09/2007 8:54:00 PM PST by kristinn
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LOL marking....


68 posted on 02/09/2007 8:54:42 PM PST by eureka! (May the voters see the light next time.....)
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To: kristinn

That could be said for about 90+% of articles in U.S. broadsheets.


69 posted on 02/09/2007 8:55:27 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: Rodney King
You rang?
70 posted on 02/09/2007 8:55:43 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ......)
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To: Redcloak

Ding, ding, ding - I think we have a winner!


71 posted on 02/09/2007 8:56:18 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: Redcloak; NCPAC; MD4Bush; xcullen; Anti-Bubba182; Mo1; cyncooper; BillF; crushkerry; Howlin; ...
The URL as it appears in the article does go to MegaGo.com. The typo was in what they typed into their browser in the first place.

Ping.

I don't get this story. What's the crime? Does Massachusetts have a law against employees campaigning for or against political candidates on their own time? Were the statements made while on official duty? Is someone supposedly impersonating a police officer?
72 posted on 02/09/2007 8:56:56 PM PST by conservative in nyc
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To: kristinn
left wing Web site, Free Republic

I believe Jim can sue for defamation or slander at this point.
73 posted on 02/09/2007 8:57:39 PM PST by BJClinton (articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy)
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To: basil

How do I place a marker? I'd like to read it again tomorrow.


74 posted on 02/09/2007 8:59:19 PM PST by MondoQueen
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To: kristinn

Boy did someone not do their research.


75 posted on 02/09/2007 8:59:39 PM PST by Bogey78O (Nifong's final appeal before St. Peter should get tossed.)
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To: kristinn

ROFLOL. With minds like this you really don't have to wonder how teddy and dufus keep getting elected. It also explains why a few idiots from Mass parked at the end of my driveway and tried to go hunting in my back yard.


76 posted on 02/09/2007 8:59:57 PM PST by armymarinemom (My sons freed Iraqi and Afghan Honor Roll students.)
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To: TonyRo76
Wha—?! Is this a joke? Has this Firth dolt ever been on FR?

Sounds like they may not be too familiar with that inter-web thing.

77 posted on 02/09/2007 9:00:22 PM PST by somemoreequalthanothers (All for the betterment of "the state", comrade)
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To: freedomfiter2

No wonder you clowns get no traction outside the Hothouse for Hunter being willing to LIE at the drop of a hat.


78 posted on 02/09/2007 9:00:31 PM PST by justshutupandtakeit (Defeat Hillary's V'assed Left Wing Conspiracy.)
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To: Bogey78O
Has anybody told Jim about this? I wonder if he knows he runs a Left wing blog.
79 posted on 02/09/2007 9:02:10 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter ( I am sitting under my cone of silence, inside a copper wire cage wearing a tin foil hat...)
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To: kristinn
Hey, who needs a ride to the Hillary! in '08 rally?

-PJ

80 posted on 02/09/2007 9:03:04 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (It's still not safe to vote Democrat.)
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