Police Suspended Over MySpace Comments

[NVMojo]

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Three police officers were suspended over Web site comments about their jobs and derogatory language about gays and the mentally disabled.

The suspensions came after two other officers were suspended in June over comments and photos posted on the same site, MySpace.com.

In the latest case, the Fayette Urban County Council approved a recommendation on Thursday to suspend Aaron Noel, Richard Sisk and Paul Stewart on administrative charges of conduct unbecoming of an officer. Each was suspended for 80 hours without pay and was ordered to undergo sensitivity training.

more...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2006/jul/07/070707033.html

[Redstone]

1. Dumb bastards. This happened to a cop in our town, too. Duh.

Redstone

[reichstag911]

2. Any way...

...to find the page on MySpace? The times I've attempted to use their search page, it's been singularly unhelpful.

[Fridays Child]

3. Their wholesale disrespect for segments of the population they are...

...charged with serving and protecting is extremely dangerous. I'm glad they were suspended and I hope it send a loud, clear message.

[RaVeN MeaD]

6. How dare they speak their mind on their web site

Personal opinions should be kept locked up in a small dark space under the stairs, that way no one can see you through your mask.

:sarcasm:

[liberalhistorian]

9. Thank you, you beat me to it!

I'm getting really sick and tired of employers snooping into every aspect of our lives now, including what we post on the internet. As disgusting as their comments were, they still had the right to express them. Anyone who disagrees with this should think about the slippery slope this sets us on. In other words, I predict it will only be a matter of time before employers, insurers, and other institutionalized busybodies will routinely check our internet postings and get rid of, or refuse to cover, or otherwise punish, those whose posts they don't like. I wonder how many people here would want their postings on DU to be read by their conservative boss or company managers?

[Miss Chybil]

12. LOL! You sound like my son.

If you post it on the Internet, it's NOT private. If you don't want somebody reading your thoughts, keep them in your head, or under your bed. Don't put them online for the ENTIRE WORLD TO READ!!!!! Geez. It's not rocket science.

[liberalhistorian]

13. That's very true, I'm not at all denying that

internet posts are public and should never be thought of as private. What I'm arguing is that employers, insurers, etc., should not have the right to snoop into our online posts and use them to fire, demote, refuse coverage, etc., etc. It's none of their goddamn business.

[RaVeN MeaD]

18. Everyone has the right to express themselves....

What you do for a living, whatever that may be, ends when you clock out. I understand that police are on duty 24 hours a day (in effect) but when they are not working they should be able to express themselves in any legal manner they deem necessary. Even if they are narrow minded bigoted assholes like the officers discussed in the article.

[sendero]

10. There are certain professions...

.. where your conduct must meet certain standards 24/7. There is no "private" on the internet.

Your personal opinions are fine here, you are free to be as stupid as you are.

[xchrom]

15. how is putting it on myspace private?

and a police officer is not a worker at the local roto rooter.

a a police officer -- like others who work for the public must be scrupulous about their attitudes toward the makeup of the public.


this isn't negotiable.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. Oh, they've got a right to their opinions.

But if they're going to be bigots they've got no business being on the police force.

At the very least they need to be fired and past testimony be brought into question.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Why would grown men go to MySpace & reveal intimate info like a

bunch of schoolgirls?

[alfredo]

5. maybe they want to be "cool."

[RaVeN MeaD]

8. Myspace is not just for teens....

Have you been to the DU myspace page? http://groups.myspace.com/iDUdoyou

[rayofreason]

11. They think it is a private conversation...

...and it is not.

Caveat emptor!

[rayofreason]

7. Lots of people...

...are finding out that MySpace is not private, and that others are reading it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/us/11recruit.html?ei=5090&en=ddfbe1e3b386090b&ex=1307678400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all

[LanternWaste]

14. Sorry, couldn't resist...

Hey! I thought pedophiles were the only adults that went to that place.

(Sorry, couldn't resist...) :evilgrin:

[gratuitous]

16. What?! People can read what you post on the internet?

Why was I not informed???

Back to reality for just a moment: There's a world of difference between making an internet post and going out with your other cop buddies for a beer after your shift to blow off steam about how tough the job is, dealing with the queers and the feebs, and generally commiserating with one another. One of these activities is highly ephemeral, there for a moment and then gone. One of these activities creates a permanent record that can be retrieved practically indefinitely, and read by anyone with the smarts to use a computer.

Unsurprisingly, people and employers don't like to read slams themselves. While a person can sue you for an internet posting, an employer can fire you for it. And just as you wouldn't stand out in front of your place of employment and holler about what a lousy place to work it is, you ought not to post derogatory stuff against your employer on the internet, which is the cyber equivalent. At least, if you're going to flame your employer, do it in a way that can't be traced back to you.

Gotta go; my shrew of a boss wants me to actually do some work.

[jwirr]

17. More important than what they said or what happened to them

is this question: How were they identified and traced on the internet? Who was monitoring?