A website claims to allow users to rate their encounters with police officers from various LE agencies.
See: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=59764 (video news story).
Or: KGO (SF) story here.
What do you think about this concept? Could it be misused by lawyers or others? What concerns do any LEOs have? Is this much ado about nothing? Should Chief Dyer be lectured on free speech issues?
See: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=59764 (video news story).
Or: KGO (SF) story here.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A new Web site is infuriating police agencies all over the state and the country. It's called Ratemycop.com and it allows users to rate the performance of more than 130,000 police officers whose names are posted there. That may sound good to some, but police believe the site puts them and their families in danger.
"I'd like to see it gone," says Officer Hector Basurto, vice president of the Latino Police Officers Association. He recently learned about Ratemycop.com and is furious.
"Having a Web site like that puts a lot of law enforcement, in my eyes, in danger because it exposes us out there," says Officer Basurto.
Will they be able to access our home addresses, our home phone numbers, our marital status, whether or not we have children? Which is always a big concern," says Kevin Martin, vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association.
Creators of the site say no personal information will be on the site. They gathered officers names which are public information from more than 450 police agencies nationwide. Some listings also have badge numbers along with the officers' names.
Rebecca Costell says in a statement that the site helps people rate more than 130,000 officers nationwide by rating them on authority, fairness and satisfaction. She adds, "our Web site's purpose is to break the stereotype that people have that cops are all bad by having police officers become responsible for their actions. We will screen the site for any inappropriate comments."
"Officers who are rated face unfair maligning without any opportunity to defend themselves. The CPCA will work with other law enforcement associations to pursue legislation to stop the Web site," says Chief Jerry Dyer, president of the California Police Chiefs Association.
What do you think about this concept? Could it be misused by lawyers or others? What concerns do any LEOs have? Is this much ado about nothing? Should Chief Dyer be lectured on free speech issues?