Jeni Reisinger, the Sheboygan Police Department, and the Link

Those of us in the Wisconsin blogosphere remember how Jeni Reisinger came under fire last fall for simply linking to the Sheboygan Police Department. In solidarity with Jeni, many of us decided to add links to the Sheboygan Police Department to our sites.

My original post on the subject, November 2, 2007:

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.

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As it turns out, I think the Sheboygan Police Department is about to get a lot more links to its site than it ever imagined.

Boing Boing picked up the story of Jeni's lawsuit against Sheboygan Mayor Juan Perez and the city of Sheboygan. Boing Boing credits Slashdot.

There's more...

The Register, based in the UK, also has Jeni's story.

There are others:

"City makes threats to prevent linking"

"Suit Claims City's Take-Down Demand Violated Civil Rights"

"Links To Sheboygan Police Not Authorized By City - Don't Link Me Bro"

The several postings on Jeni's struggle with Mayor Perez and the Sheboygan Police Departmen have sparked some spirited discussions.

Some comments from Boing Boing:

1 posted by Nword , September 17, 2008 12:11 AM
They can't use the deep linking precedent, and a URL can't be considered anything if not public info.. otherwise, why in the hell would you put it online (and un password protected)?

Are they going to threaten google next?
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#2 posted by mdh , September 17, 2008 12:23 AM
More citizens like her please!
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#4 posted by NicoNicoNico , September 17, 2008 1:23 AM
That has to be the silliest thing I have ever heard. What did the city think they'd accomplish by having that done? They should have known word would've gotten out, and then they'd look like complete dweebs.
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#6 posted by Keeper of the Lantern , September 17, 2008 2:06 AM
Come on, gang! You know what to do! Everyone should throw up as many links as they can to that page.
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#7 posted by mikelotus , September 17, 2008 2:33 AM
Will need to add the link to my blog too. And a link to this story.
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#9 posted by spazzm , September 17, 2008 3:20 AM
Are we talking about the website located at http://www.sheboyganpolice.com/?

Note: I'm not linking to it, I don't want anyone to get into trouble.

So if we can't link to http://www.sheboyganpolice.com/, can we link to pages that link to http://www.sheboyganpolice.com/?Like Google?

This is what happens when the sphere of lawyers and politicians intersect with technology. Total idiocy.
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Mayor Juan Perez and the Sheboygan Police Department are becoming world famous!

Ah, yes. Unintended consequences.

With the increased traffic, I hope the Sheboygan Police Department site doesn't crash.


Related posts:

Mayor Juan Perez and Sheboygan Press Propaganda

Sheboygan Police Department Link Update

City of Sheboygan Backs Down on Link Letter

Sheboygan Aldermen Comment on Perez

Sheboygan Mayor Perez Wants to Move On

Sheboygan Press Calls for Ethics Probe