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."
They must have clicked onto a Rudy thread.
LOL! Good one!
Thank goodnesss for Firefox's popup blocker!
I read that, but I don't read any connection to that, and this article. WTH is going on?
"chat room"
When did that happen ..??
Left Wing?????? BTW. Where's the "chatroom"??
guinnessboy has no posts on Feb. 23, 2005. Huh.More precisely, guinnessboy has no posts from 3/22/005 to 4/8/2005:
Victory
Posted by guinnessboy to Little Bill; ElectricStrawberry; jmt576; BostonianRightist; djjava; jacket
On News/Activism 04/08/2005 9:12:06 AM PDT · 9 of 13
Thanks LB, the reward outweighs the work involved, What will Mitt be doing as far as town/county level?
Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies
Commies Litter the Common/Operation Infinite FReep
Posted by guinnessboy to Little Bill; ElectricStrawberry; BostonianRightist; djjava; jacket; jmt576
On News/Activism 03/22/2005 6:59:23 PM PST · 25 of 32
Ahhhhh remember when? those were the days.......
http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/003804.html
Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies
You've marked it by making a comment and I have marked it for you too with this reply. Just look in "My Comments" tomorrow and click on the article.
ummmm,.... does JR know this is a left wing site???? ROTFLMBO!!!!!!
Click the post reply, then in the To: box erase the handle that is there and put in your own handle in the box. It will then come up in your message area.
...and this one.Bingo!
From that thread:
Victory
self
Posted on 04/07/2005 5:27:50 PM PDT by Little Bill
Our dear FRiend and fellow FReeper, guinnessboy, guided his Future Father In Law to Victory, against a machine Rat, in his race for selectman, in Mansfield, Mass.
According to this FReep Mail, "LB we won the election, but not without the opponent finding out about this link on Freeper, ME,. So I figured instead of posting more I'd just email it to you.-Ron"
Power to the People, Ron; you did good!!!
I know a guy who once called John Zizza and Mary Dunn chowderheads. And another guy who called them a bunch of bucked-tooth morons. But, I'll never tell you who they are! Go ahead and subpoena me. I'll never give up my sources no matter how long I have to sit in jail!
Maybe they meant FreePubic.com.
"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."
At least they don't know who we are. Whew! That was close!
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