A Web Site Causes Unease in Police

NY Times ^ | 7/12/03 | Adam Liptak

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

No, you're right. I have never been around "POED lobster men".

But if you're going to change my mind, you're going to have to explain to me why, because other people have jobs that are physically risky, police officers who are dealing with the absolute bottom of society's barrel day in and day out are not entitled to privacy and protection.

I have a very good friend who is a former police detective. I know something about what they go through. I know something about how their lives are threatened routinely by those they have arrested and helped to put away - people they are protecting you and me from.

I don't want to see his name, address, phone number and social security number on some damned internet site. I really don't. Do I have to explain why?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Falling off a boat is not the same thing as having a convicted rapist be pissed off at you for arresting him and deciding he is going to come after your fourteen year-old daughter.

Is that so difficult for you to comprehend?

Produce one documented case of that happening.

Put up or shut up.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

LOL - do your own research! One of my best friends spent his life in law enforcement. I know it happens. And it happens a lot.

Only a naive fool would believe it doesn't.

[CWOJackson]

I think it was in 1988 when the TEDs law was enacted in the Gulf of Mexico. At that time fishing nets had to have a turtle exclusion device, so endangered sea turtles could escape their nets. Unfortunately the TEDs also let a lot of fish escape as well. The fishermen in the Gulf were unhappy. Of course it was a Coast Guard responsibility to enforce the TEDs law. In response some fishermen in some areas started shooting at Coasties in their cars...but the Coast Guard decal on the car doesn't identify the driver as a Coastie or their spouse...or child.

Something very similar happened up in our neck of the woods when the Mackaw Indians had a successful whale hunt. Anti-whaling activists decided that a Mackaw Indian, and a Coastie, would also have to die in revenge for the death of the "whale person".

[CWOJackson]

By the way, my wife was in the car when it was hit twice. In total, five cars were hit and a few dozen shot at.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You'd almost think some of these people think criminals are nice people who would never hurt anyone.

I would like to know what they are imbibing. I have a feeling it's not legal.

[CWOJackson]

And I'm not even talking about "traditional" criminals, just angry fishermen in Louisianna, and the save the whale crowd in Seattle.

It was kind of strange in Louisianna having to remove all identifying stickers from your car, and never traveling in uniform, because people wanted to shoot at you.

[danmar]

public servants we send in to do our dirty work for us, is to put those servants, our servants,

Well you just hit the nail right on it's head. "Public Servants" .Becoming a cop is a voluntary move and beign paid by the tax payers, as a public servant you are open for public scrutiny wich it should be. To broadcast ones SS in public domain it seems to me a bit overboard.

You have said that if anyone does not like their local cop, should vote him out or change the law. The only cop you can vote in/out is the Sheriff and/or Police Chief. Regular cops are just hired guns more or less with a whole lot of power rendered to them because of the said job description.

To change the law, well good luck on that one. The cops due to their position have great powers vested to them, and when those powers are falling in the wrong hands and misused, it can create havoc in one's life. So, public scrutiny is not such a bad thing, it only keeps them on their toes and away from stupid ideas.

If somebody does not like the idea he/she should consider a different venue of employment. And please do give me the line "they are doing the dirty work for us/putting their lives on line to protect us".Police work is a "job" nothing more, nothing less, has it's hazards to ones health just like other jobs. It is still a "voluntary" employment. If one can not stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

[danmar]

Police officers are in no position to change laws.... the only reason to look them up at home would be personal.

To do what? You are talking about like it this big conspiracy cooked up by the Mob to take on every cop on the beat and get even. Slow down, is not that bad as you're trying to paint it. Further more, most if not all cops never live/reside in the patrol area. It's a no,no.

[danmar]

YES, cops put their lives on the line. Why on earth would you even attempt to argue that point?

Last I've checked the "police officer/deputy sheriff" was still under "voluntary" employment. Are you implying that by meere fact of employment in police force entitles you of some special privileges?
Every job has it's own health hazards more or less.

[HairOfTheDog]

Just because the job is voluntary doesn't mean they don't deserve protection and privacy.

[HairOfTheDog]

Actually, I understand how he could make that mistake.

Heh..... and what does that one mean? :~D

[honeygrl]

"If he wants to drop by the house," Lieutenant Caldwell said, "the police officers would be more than happy to welcome him. We're all armed and trained."

That almost sounds like a threat...

[Arpege92]

"Affirmative action has seen to it that there is no longer any correlation between intelligence and a college degree."


Touche'.....but that still doesn't change the fact that most police departments are requiring a college degree. There are other problems as well in getting people to join a police department. New York City for instance, just a few years back, they too WERE very picky about the people they hired but now....it's a whole different ball game. They can't get people anymore and thus have lowered the standard and now anyone can become a New York City police officer. I'm not saying all of these people are bad cops now, but it certainly opens the door wider for potential problems.

If it were up to you, how would you build up your police department when no one is interested in becoming a cop?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I'm not "implying" anything. I'm STATING that the people who step forward to defend ordinary, law-abiding citizens from people who intend to do others harm deserve to themselves be protected, as much as is practical to do so.

I like my local cops being able to sleep once in a while, thank you very much.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If it were up to you, how would you build up your police department when no one is interested in becoming a cop?

I'd disband the thing and let people find out what it's like to be without them.

In a short while people would be clamoring to become cops.

[honeygrl]

I just visited his site and love the fact that he posts the salaries of as many on the site as he can find.

[honeygrl]

"This is not that.... this is a website singling our cops to those most likely to be leading the angry mob. "

Yet not one time in the 2 yrs the site has been running has any cop been harmed due to the contents.

[Arpege92]

It's frustrating how a few bad cops can make the rest of them look bad.