Sex offender living next to school?

[LuciusBeebe]

I could see that being problematic

How could it be problematic?

[matt_s]

While I'm all for holding public officials accountable for their activities and cops qualify as such to me, this type of site is really a haven for the discontented. People are much more likely to post when they are upset than when they are happy about a situation. It's just human nature. So I would think we would see a disproportionate level of complainsts vs. praise. For a site whose stated goal is to remove the mean cop stereotype, I don't think this is the way to do it.

[evilkumquat]

Well, considering the "thin blue line" is almost always in effect, citizens MUST have a method of protection against police, even if is nothing more than a public forum for which to air their grievances.

[james_t]

Well, considering the "thin blue line" is almost always in effect, citizens MUST have a method of protection against police, even if is nothing more than a public forum for which to air their grievances.

I'd hardly call it a method of protection. In that you have no clue of the credibility of the person posting, I would say it's pretty worthless. There's just too many ways for people to take advantage of such a system - multiple identities, etc. For that matter, how do you know the police won't give themselves all good reports?

[LuciusBeebe]

You guys are missing the point of bringing that site into the discussion.

What is the harm of it?

[james_t]

I don't think it's an apples-to-apples comparison. There's a difference between a site that contains public records that are a result of convictions by either a judge or a jury of one's peers and a site that's collecting anonymous opinions about police officers by name from any yahoo out there.

I guess there's no harm in it unless some officer gets slandered, though I could see something like that happening fairly easily. (I'd guess the people running the site will need some pretty good lawyers.) And like I said before, not knowing the source of the information on the site makes it fairly useless.

[dg46755]

You guys are missing the point of bringing that site into the discussion.

What is the harm of it?

Probably very little harm if you do not believe everything you read, both good and bad. Some people however believe if they read it then it has to be true. I agree with a previous statement about most people speak out when they are upset and not when something good happens. It would probably be very lopsided on the upset side but I guess if it makes you feel better then do it.

[dg46755]

I can just imagine reading it now: Boy that Patrolman Smith is a great guy. He gave me a ticket for speeding and my wife got a seatbelt ticket. I sure appreciate the $250.00 it is going to cost me. My insurance rates are going to go up because Patrolman Smith saw that it was just a matter of time before my speeding caused an accident. Thanks to him I will pay more attention to my driving. Thanks so much Mr. Smith.

[LuciusBeebe]

Probably very little harm if you do not believe everything you read, both good and bad. Some people however believe if they read it then it has to be true.

Again, what harm would it do?

[LuciusBeebe]

I brought it up in the other thread because people don't have a problem with a website that puts the names and faces of sex offenders in the public domain, but when the tables are turned, the cops have a problem with it.

Why?

Officer Hector Basurto, the vice president of the Latino Police Officers Association, "Having a website like this out there puts a lot of law enforcement in danger," he said. "It exposes us out there."

I have the same feeling about sex offenders as most people, but they went to jail, they did their time. These websites do, in my opinion, what Officer Basurto believes the cop website does.

[matt_s]

Again, what harm would it do?

A lot or a little. If an officer shows up to do their job, they needs people that see them as a police officer and respect the authority that they represent. If you have a few people that are fired up over some issue unrelated to the situation at hand and aren't listening to the cop because it is a specific individual that has been bad mouthed on a website (either deservingly or not), there can be problems. Anything that further enflames the public, however well intended, makes their job more difficult and potentially more dangerous.

[matt_s]

Ok, Lucius clarified his point on the website issue. I've coppied the posts back over here, but the other thread is still in "Other News" for comments related to how these sites may be related to sex offender lists, lets keep these here, but if you have comments on the police sites in general, let keep that discussion over in "Other News". Does that work for everybody?

[matt_s]

I brought it up in the other thread because people don't have a problem with a website that puts the names and faces of sex offenders in the public domain, but when the tables are turned, the cops have a problem with it.

Why?

Officer Hector Basurto, the vice president of the Latino Police Officers Association, "Having a website like this out there puts a lot of law enforcement in danger," he said. "It exposes us out there."

I have the same feeling about sex offenders as most people, but they went to jail, they did their time. These websites do, in my opinion, what Officer Basurto believes the cop website does.

You make a very good point about it exposing the sex offender to the potential for public discrimination, harassment,... after they have served their time.

But, right now, the law says that registering for such lists is part of their punishment so in a way they are still serving that portion of their "time".

Of course the reply to that would be "What purpose do making these lists public serve other than to get people fired up?"

[LuciusBeebe]

But, right now, the law says that registering for such lists is part of their punishment so in a way they are still serving that portion of their "time".

Good point.

Of course the reply to that would be "What purpose do making these lists public serve other than to get people fired up?"

It seems very Scarlet Letter-ish to me.

[matt_s]

It seems very Scarlet Letter-ish to me.

I can see that too. I'm of two minds on this. The more emotional parent (read control freak) side of me wants to know. But the more logical portion of me that can gain separation from the emotional side says that so long as the authorities know and whatever other officials we deem necessary, have the appropriate knowledge to serve and protect and perform their public duties, the potential for damage caused by these lists outweighs the public gain.

I also don't want to let all of the evil in the world keep me or my family from enjoying all of the good things out there. I'm not going to fear life, I don't want to raise my son that way. This doesn't mean I'm ignoring the threats, I'm just mixing prudence with common sense.

[LuciusBeebe]

Its subjective, but after looking at the link in the OP, is there anybody convicted of child molestation that doesn't look like a friggin' child molestor? C'mon, after looking at the pics of these guys, what sort of parent would trust their kid around these guys?

[matt_s]

Its subjective, but after looking at the link in the OP, is there anybody convicted of child molestation that doesn't look like a friggin' child molestor? C'mon, after looking at the pics of these guys, what sort of parent would trust their kid around these guys?

So exactly what does a child molester look like these days. I doubt they are as easy to pick out as junkies.

[LuciusBeebe]

Its like what's-his-face said about porn, I know it when I see it.

[ebbieday]

I have the same feeling about sex offenders as most people, but they went to jail, they did their time. These websites do, in my opinion, what Officer Basurto believes the cop website does.

Offenders may have done their time, but statistics show that once an offender has been caught, convicted and sent to prison, most will re-offend upon release, and not just once. I would not be willing to take that chance. You can hardly compare the S.O. registry to a rate-a-cop web site.

[LuciusBeebe]

You can hardly compare the S.O. registry to a rate-a-cop web site.

Why do you say that?