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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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1 posted on 02/09/2007 8:13:34 PM PST by kristinn
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To: kristinn
a left wing Web site, Free Republic"

ROFLOL!!!!!!

2 posted on 02/09/2007 8:15:01 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: Jim Robinson

The First Amendment be damned. Politicians have been insulted!


3 posted on 02/09/2007 8:15:39 PM PST by kristinn
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To: kristinn; LUV W; Jet Jaguar; All

OMGGG we are famous among law enforcement I love it Kristinn rack it ROFL

HI OFFICERS


4 posted on 02/09/2007 8:16:03 PM PST by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: kristinn; Jim Robinson
a left wing Web site, Free Republic"

Can we sue for defamation?

5 posted on 02/09/2007 8:16:26 PM PST by sionnsar (†trad-anglican.faithweb.com†|Iran Azadi| 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | UN: Useless Nations)
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To: Little Bill; guinnessboy

Are your ears burning?


6 posted on 02/09/2007 8:16:29 PM PST by kristinn
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To: sionnsar

a left wing Web site, Free Republic"


They must have clicked onto a Rudy thread.


7 posted on 02/09/2007 8:17:19 PM PST by freedomfiter2 (Hunter '08)
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To: kristinn

Geeeeez, left wing website? I tell you it's all those trolls, they're taking over :o)


8 posted on 02/09/2007 8:17:51 PM PST by McGavin999 (I need a new tag line)
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To: kristinn

Go on state and read re Scott B! It's so funny


9 posted on 02/09/2007 8:17:57 PM PST by acapesket (never had a vote count in all my years here)
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To: kristinn
“They were making fun of John Zizza and Mary Dunn and me.”

Ma’am, if you think this is a left wing site, ridicule might be in order.

10 posted on 02/09/2007 8:18:02 PM PST by dighton
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To: kristinn

I'm not sure which is worse, these small-minded little pols trying to repeal the 1st Amendment, or these small-minded little pols thinking FR is "left-wing". Local politics seems to attract people even stupider than national politics does.


11 posted on 02/09/2007 8:18:16 PM PST by ozzymandus
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To: kristinn
Selectmen?
12 posted on 02/09/2007 8:18:26 PM PST by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: kristinn
Firth called the Internet site a "political blog written on a left wing Web site, Free Republic," which included a chat room


Has somebody been lying to me all this time?
13 posted on 02/09/2007 8:19:08 PM PST by Taichi
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To: sionnsar

And a web address of freepublic.com????


14 posted on 02/09/2007 8:19:44 PM PST by TheBattman (I've got TWO QUESTIONS for you....)
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To: kristinn

WRENTHAM?


15 posted on 02/09/2007 8:19:46 PM PST by mdittmar (May God watch over those who serve,and have served, to keep us free.)
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To: kristinn

Somebody have a picture of sand these "selectmen" can go pound?


16 posted on 02/09/2007 8:20:05 PM PST by steveegg (Now playing in Hell - the Hussein family reunion, produced by President Bush, directed by the Iraqis)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001; mhking; JohnHuang2; ChewedGum; sonsofliberty2000

ping


17 posted on 02/09/2007 8:20:52 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: kristinn
"They were making fun of John Zizza and Mary Dunn and me," said Selectwoman Jennifer Firth...

Yes, I was, because you deserve it, you chowderheads.

(Is "randog" the perp we're looking for? What if he's just toying with us? But what if he's not! What to do, what to do....!)

18 posted on 02/09/2007 8:20:56 PM PST by randog (What the...?!)
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To: kristinn

What is a selectman?


19 posted on 02/09/2007 8:21:06 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: mdittmar

Here you go:
http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2007/02/09/news/news4txt


20 posted on 02/09/2007 8:21:17 PM PST by acapesket (never had a vote count in all my years here)
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