The Observation Deck

A friend sent me a link to a news story aired on Fox 8 regarding a Lakewood Police Lieutenant who repeatedly sent pornographic e-mails to subordinates.


It includes an interview with Law Director Brian Corrigan where he claimed that the city could not force the lieutenant to stop sending these e-mails EVEN THOUGH A SUBORDINATE COMPLAINED.

The officer who asked that the e-mails stop has since filed a civil service complaint.

A local law professor stated that the city could face a lawsuit.

What the heck is going on here?

The video can be found on the Fox 8 news site. It shows graphic images and is not appropriate for children so I won't bother to post the link.

The story was also shown on channel 19. They do tend to sensational stories but just the fact that a higher up sent these kind of emails to a subordinate is very disturbing. They made it sound like a case of a good old boys club. Someone please say it isn't so? And don't view the story around children, definitely not appropriate.

I agree that many incidents do tend to get sensationalized. However, the reporter in this case appeared fairly subdued and Corrigan totally admitted that what the guy was doing was wrong. He said it embarrassed him and embarrassed Lakewood.

So the facts seem to be correct. What bothers me is that they KNEW about this, had a complaint, and decided that they couldn't do a thing about it.

Really? You can bet if this occurred in a private employment situation, something would have been done. In this case, the lieutenant received NO warning, NO discipline, NOTHING.

Grace O'Malley wrote:I agree that many incidents do tend to get sensationalized. However, the reporter in this case appeared fairly subdued and Corrigan totally admitted that what the guy was doing was wrong. He said it embarrassed him and embarrassed Lakewood.

So the facts seem to be correct. What bothers me is that they KNEW about this, had a complaint, and decided that they couldn't do a thing about it.

Really? You can bet if this occurred in a private employment situation, something would have been done. In this case, the lieutenant received NO warning, NO discipline, NOTHING.

Grace

From my sources this is a tough one. Police officer that has been on sick leave for many months, sends something from home. So there becomes a home computer versus a work computer, free speech, etc. Also my source who had been on the list maention there are police from other cities, and non-police officers on the list. There could also be questions on if the list was voluntary, if people asked for the items or had a chance to say no to the mailings.

I am not making excuses for anyone, I am sure we have all gotten the slightly off color poem, list, photo, etc. This is why I block email.

The incident goes back to July, which does not make it any better. It should have been handled immediately and very firmly. Today we pay the price for "working it through proper channels."


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Jim

He didn't just "send something from home." He sent TONS of e-mails. He sent them AFTER he was asked to STOP. He sent them to a subordinate. He referenced work related incidents.


Don't tell me they wished they had done something. Corrigan all but defended the guy. I'm sorry but free speech is a "cop out." I'll take the law professor's opinion over Corrigans.

Grace O'Malley wrote:Jim

He didn't just "send something from home." He sent TONS of e-mails. He sent them AFTER he was asked to STOP. He sent them to a subordinate. He referenced work related incidents.


Don't tell me they wished they had done something. Corrigan all but defended the guy. I'm sorry but free speech is a "cop out." I'll take the law professor's opinion over Corrigans.

Grace

I can only go by what I was told when asked a very limited question to a friend that has some information. Who knows how close to the case they were. My question, "Should the paper be pulled from printing for the story?" They mentioned they would not say but from what they have heard. Personal computers, with a list that was getting mail for some time. All of it was not porno, much of it was those stupid little joke emails that go out. they had been on the list and asked to be removed and were. They did not work for the city, but did work with other police and city officials from outside of Lakewood that were also part of this email group.

While I agree this should have been dealt with immediately, and there is nothing funny about getting emails from supervisors that make you uncomfortable. We should also take a little into account as to why this public problem that had been known by the media for awhile pops ups during sweeps week.

No excuses for anyone. It should be taken care of and no city official should apologize or make light of it.

I am sure you know of what I speak. Someone sends you something that you know, and are mortified as to why they would send it to you. Luckily with earthlink they have a great email blocker.

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Here is the link. Previous warnings apply. Pictures are blocked out but not suitable for children. This is a little different, but this reminds me of Mark Fuhrman.

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pag ... geId=1.1.1

Jim O'Bryan wrote:free speech, etc.

That's utter nonsense. there are no "free speech" issues here. He sent pornographic material to a subordinate. It's irrelevant if it's from his home computer, work computer, or the library computer.

Where I work, he would have been immediately fired for that, and I've seen people fired for much, much less than the lewd material he was sending. I'm absolutely disgusted by the city of Lakewood if they don't have a policy against this sort of thing and can do nothing to enforce it.

There are no legal issues to enforcing this. Anywhere else he'd be sued or fired for sexual harassment or gross misconduct. I guess only in a government job are things like this ok. Just makes me sick.

If Lakewood truly has no policy against this, then they will get sued and they will lose. And if that's true, then they deserve to lose.

Congratulations LPD on helping is further the "Lakewood Brand".

And Jim, sweeps week or not, if the Lt wasn't doing this in the first place, they would have had nothing to show.

Where I work, he would have been immediately fired for that, and I've seen people fired for much, much less than the lewd material he was sending. I'm absolutely disgusted by the city of Lakewood if they don't have a policy against this sort of thing and can do nothing to enforce it.

There are no legal issues to enforcing this. Anywhere else he'd be sued or fired for sexual harassment or gross misconduct. I guess only in a government job are things like this ok. Just makes me sick.

I agree Bryan, I just don't see how it's possible that he was not punished. This wasn't a case of him sending one inappropriate email, this was a case of someone repeatedly sending vulgar, disgusting porn even after he was told to stop. Just what we need, more positive news about Lakewood.

Bryan Schwegler wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:free speech, etc.

That's utter nonsense. there are no "free speech" issues here. He sent pornographic material to a subordinate. It's irrelevant if it's from his home computer, work computer, or the library computer.

Where I work, he would have been immediately fired for that, and I've seen people fired for much, much less than the lewd material he was sending. I'm absolutely disgusted by the city of Lakewood if they don't have a policy against this sort of thing and can do nothing to enforce it.

There are no legal issues to enforcing this. Anywhere else he'd be sued or fired for sexual harassment or gross misconduct. I guess only in a government job are things like this ok. Just makes me sick.

If Lakewood truly has no policy against this, then they will get sued and they will lose. And if that's true, then they deserve to lose.

Congratulations LPD on helping is further the "Lakewood Brand".

And Jim, sweeps week or not, if the Lt wasn't doing this in the first place, they would have had nothing to show.

Bryan

Having finally seen the report I would have to agree.

The other night I was asked what chance does Lakewood have for a police levy when most do not even live in Lakewood. I had to agree.

Add this to the mix, and it will just get tougher.

One step ahead...


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I get sent home if I forget to wear black socks and put my grey or white ones on.

I wonder what the mayor has to say about this? I wonder if he'll make some kind of statement regarding the acceptability of this issue.

Or heck, what about city council, do they find this acceptable?

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The report is going to be on again tonight on the 10:00 news on Fox 8.