Sheboygan Police Department Link

I can't stand when people in positions of authority use their power to intimidate and tread on people without such authority.

I can't stand it when they throw their weight around and harass people.

It bugs me. Bigtime.

So I find what's happening to a private citizen in Sheboygan to be extremely troubling.

Talk about civil liberties being eroded!

Jeni from Sheboygan Shenanigans has discovered that if you state your opinion about Sheboygan Mayor Juan Perez, you're a candidate for investigation by the Sheboygan Police Department.

Patrick has the story at Badger Blogger.

He writes:

Our friend Jeni from Sheboygan Shenanigans and Sheboygan Spirit has been one of the few voices critical of the shenanigans that have been going on in her home town, Sheboygan Wi. and this includes being critical of Sheboygan’s Mayor, Juan Perez. In fact, Jeni spearheaded a recall effort against Perez.

Now, apparently is time for payback. Recently, Jeni received a letter from the Sheboygan City Attorney, Stephen G. McLean, demanding that she remove a link to the main page of the Sheboygan Police Department. Jeni did remove the links, even though there is absolutely nothing inappropriate about linking to the very public main page of the police department, a page that one would think they would want people to use. Shortly after receiving this letter and removing the links, a Lieutenant from the Sheboygan Police Department followed up with a phone call, telling her she is the subject of a police investigation. Mark Belling has confirmed that this lieutenant was ordered by Sheboygan Police Chief David E. Kirk.

Patrick has audio of Mark Belling discussing the matter of linking to the Sheboygan Police Department.

He also links to bloggers addressing the issue of linking to the Sheboygan Police Department.

On his show this morning, Charlie Sykes spoke about the harassment of Jeni for linking to the Sheboygan Police Department. Patrick has the audio.

Kate makes creative use of emoticons to express her opinion of those trying to silence Jeni for linking to the Sheboygan Police Department.

Sheboygan Shenanigans has posted PDFs of the e-mails between the "City Attorney and the private citizen" about linking to the Sheboygan Police Department.

City Attorney Stephen G. McLean writes:

I am further advised that the City has not authorized this connection to its Police Department website, and we wish to have the link severed until such time as the City were to give authorization.

What a load!

Anyone can link to the Sheboygan Police Department.

For example, I don't need special authorization to link to the Sheboygan Police Department.

What a dumb move by Mayor Juan Perez!

It's not cool to investigate and threaten a citizen for expressing her opinion.

Harassing her for simply posting a link to the Sheboygan Police Department is positively ludicrous.

By the way, here is a link to the Sheboygan Police Department.

Here is another link to the Sheboygan Police Department.

Oops! That's the same link.

Either one will work.