Is Rating Police Officers a Good idea?
http://www.fox6.com/news/local/stor...7a-2b372c3d9e34
Last Update: 3/11 11:21 pm
Local law enforcement officers say a new website could jeopardize their safety and compromise investigations. The website lists the names of more than 130,000 officers nationwide including many from San Diego.
“That can be a huge officer safety concern for us, “ says Lt. Phil Brust with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. “We’re concerned because there may be names in there that we don’t want out because of sensitive investigations.”
San Diegans Fox 6 News spoke with are divided over whether the site promotes police accountability or problems.
“It’d be a good idea,” explains Isaac Salinas. “Maybe it will stop harassment of minorities and profiling.”
Ashley Davis says she worries naming officers could put them needlessly as risk. “Having them in a place where a lot of people are viewing them can be problematic for undercover officers.”
Another concern is the fact that folks can log on to the site and post comments about the officers. Many are anything but flattering but some are very positive. Karen Vandevegte says she would love to use the site to thank a San Diego police officer who helped her after her car accident.
“I wanted to acknowledge that,” Vandevegte says. “But I didn’t have any way to do so.”
Still Lt. Brust says there are effective systems already in place to make comments. He says citizens are welcome to air grievances in person at the sheriff’s office.
Some police associations statewide are seeking legislation to take the site down. It may no longer be an issue.
And in a twist, a FOX6 viewer wrote in to let us know that the police already have a website where they can write reviews of one another -- if an officer tickets a fellow officer: Cops Writing Cops.
http://www.copswritingcops.com/
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