I am in love with the blog DOOCE. Mostly because Heather has a daughter that could be the cosmic sister of Ella as they seem to mirror every experience. Her daughter displays the same idiosyncrasies Ella is having during the same months; it's uncanny and makes me feel very sane. However, Heather is more well known for what happened to her and her blog years ago coining the term 'getting dooced'.
Dooced: getting fired for blogging about one’s job.
Bloggers around the world are familiar with the dilemma of what to write and how open they want to be with their feelings and the possible consequences of who reads. The blogger society is still creating a precedent; there are no hard fast rules as we all finding our personal limits. This caused me to really read this next story with great interest. Upon delving into the story I found an epic Scorsese-ian controversy deeply intertwined in the blogosphere and politics (like candy to me). So I now present to you "The 276 to 6 controversy"
September 1st I read in the Rockford Register Star
"Rockford cops face punishment - By Isaac Guerrero
Two Rockford police officers could lose their jobs for allegedly using department computers to write online rants while they were working.
Their comments via StoryChat on rrstar.com, the Register Star’s Web site, included harsh critiques of their boss and the Rockford Police Department..."
Five days ago the Rockford Register Star reported
"Overwhelming vote of no confidence in top cop Epperson - By Isaac Guerrero
Months of escalating tension between Police Chief Chet Epperson and his rank-and-file officers came down to a simple vote Friday, and nearly all members of the city’s police union said the same thing: They have no confidence in Epperson’s management.
There were 286 union members eligible to vote. Of the 282 cops who actually cast ballots, 276 voted “no confidence” in the way Epperson is running the department, said union Vice President Bruce Brannum…
…The union has 27 filed grievances, most concerning discipline issues, that have yet to be resolved. Four officers face disciplinary hearings before the city’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for allegations ranging from misconduct to unexcused sick leave.
De La Rosa, meanwhile, is suing the department over the way police brass handle internal investigations, and two other officers are suing the chief in a separate lawsuit involving the seizure of their firearms.
To top it off, union members have been working nearly two years without a labor contract.
…De La Rosa vowed the union will continue speaking out on issues important to its membership.
“We’re going to bring our message to the citizens of Rockford publicly and often,” he said."
Today I am reading 276to6 a blog heavily commented on by Rockford's finest, I recomend specificaly the forty-five comments made after the first post. Highlights:
"Anonymous said...
After a 276 to 6 vote against his police chief, Mayor Morrissey actually goes on TV and calls the police rank and file foolish (Sept 17, 2007, 9pm news, channel 39).Way to go mayor!
September 17, 2007 7:40 PM"
"Anonymous said...
...Bring out the spin, double talk and backpeddling. Bring out the truth on statistics and the manipulating of the numbers. Bring out how ther is no money for the Police and Fire and city streets but chedders wife can arrange for 24 million for the Metro Center that loses money every year..."
"Anonymous said...
Chet...What gave you the ingenious idea to allow 2 INTERNS into the property and evidence division? I am not saying that it was a bad idea but I mean c'mon...2 missing handguns while they were in there. What's next...civilians managing the drug siezures...."
"Anonymous said...
The Person who talked of an Intern was mis-informed There was no InternshipWe hired two College Kids ( with absolutely no Background Check ) Chet in his infinite wisdom Put two Kids IN a Place where ( " The Chief, Deputy Chief and employees of that Division ( ONLY ) are allowed and he let these KIDS Handle Hundred's of Thousands Of Dollars in Narcotics and Guns. NOW HE IS MISSING GUNS and he is hiding it from the media and Public..."
4 comments:
Individuals choose this career which means they have made the conscious choice to dedicate their lives to Law Enforcement. This is not just a career, it is a life choice. If you do not know that, then you do not know anything about police work. These are remarkable human beings who share the selfless commitment to serve the public. These individuals have chosen to risk their lives on a daily basis so YOU can carry out your daily routines without living in fear.
WE are the ones who are the first to respond when you call for help. WE are the ones who run towards an armed gunman, a mentally ill madman, a burning house…. when everyone else is running away and WE are the ones who spend countless, thankless hours completing paper work long after the suspect has bonded out of jail…WHY?....because this is our job! Without the Patrol Officers on the streets and the Detectives’ detailed investigations, crime would NEVER decrease and JUSTICE would NEVER be served. There are 276 dedicated individuals who go above and beyond their job descriptions on a daily basis.
Police Officers should be praised by their Chief and City Mayor, not made to feel like second class citizens who are “foolish”. It is not “foolish” to educate the public and stand up for your rights. The Rockford Police Department was once a very prestigious Law Enforcement Agency. Thanks to the Chief and Deputy Chief they have now successfully not only managed to alienate every local and federal jurisdiction, but 98% of all of the sworn officers within this department. The arrogance and denial this new Administration displays is embarrassing.
Isn’t the public curious about why there have been an outstanding number of retirements and resignations in the past 18 months? Don’t you want to know why some of the most prestigious, well- respected and dedicated individuals decided to end their successful careers with RPD when Chief Epperson took office?
Why is the Chief so threatened by real, experienced police officers? Is it because he knows he cannot compare? The Chief is right about this; he does not and will never measure up to Iasparro, Pirages, Getty and countless other retirees. The public should be irate at the Chief for allowing and encouraging respected, knowledgeable leaders to step away from the Rockford Police Department. These true leaders have been mentors to us all. They were some of the most dedicated street police officers who helped pave the way for our continued success today, despite our current void of role models within the Administration. These men knew what it was to be a Police Officer and knew what it meant to be a successful leader and manager. This was accomplished with complete integrity, respect and loyalty to all employees. The current Chief should be ashamed of what he has done to completely destroy the reputation of this once fine Police Department I was a part of.
The Chief speaks of his Integrity. Let me take a moment to list the definition of this word according to
Webster’s Dictionary:
1: an unimpaired condition: SOUND-NESS
2: firm adherence to a code of esp. moral or artistic values: INCORRUPTIBILITY
3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided: COMPLETENESS
Synonym 1. See HONESTY
Antonym Duplicity- 1. Contradictory double-ness of thought, speech, or action: esp : the belying of one’s true intentions by deceptive words or action 2: the quality or state of being double or twofold 3: the technically incorrect use of two or more distinct items in a single legal action
2. See UNITY
A man of integrity does not allow personal vendettas to interfere with business. A man of integrity does not lie to the public about facts. A man of integrity does not omit or fabricate pertinent information in order to ensure his personal agenda is accomplished. A man of integrity does not pick and choose WHEN he displays Integrity.
I think the public has an idea but we don't know the whole story. The 276to6 blog will help facilitate that. Anonymous needs to keep speaking up everywhere and anywhere!
Wow they're at 75 comments over there!
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