PoliceLink

For most people, making a mistake on the job is tough enough. But imagine the whole world finding out about it and then judging you on the Internet.

 

That's happening to many police officers across the country.

 

Efforts are under way to give people a chance to voice opinions about neighborhood officers.  A new Web site will allow a person to judge the officers on their job and post about their personalities.  Banner But there's concern as to whether it's free speech or just an opportunity for some to take cheap shots at police, which could get somebody hurt.

 

From the front lines of fighting crime, to the tougher times of losing a fellow officer, police find themselves under the microscope of scrutiny.

 

But that magnifying glass may be getting bigger.

 

"There's no avenue for citizens to get feedback on officers. It's kind of a secrecy out there for officers," Gino Sesto, of ratemycop.com, said.

 

But Sesto, a Los Angeles resident, said he's now exposing much of that so-called secrecy.

 

Sesto created and owns ratemycop.com, a Web site designed to allow anyone at any time to post comments about police anonymously.

 

"I think it's a good thing. Finally someone came up with a great idea," Romell Hueck said.

 

"I don't think that I'm in favor of that. People could just write anything, they could be angry and lash out," Jeanine Spielberger, of Center City, said.

 

The site lists the names of uniformed police officers from departments across the country.

 

With the click of a mouse, find the city, find the department, find the officer.

 

NBC 10's investigative reporter Harry Hairston interviewed Sesto via satellite.

 

Sesto said he filed Freedom of Information Acts with departments across the country to get police officers' names, badge numbers and other public information.

 

 

Hairston asked why the general public should be allowed to know the officer's information.

 

"You're serious, Harry? The general public is paying -- the general public is paying for the police officers' salary, they're public servants, and they're there to serve the public," Sesto said.

 

"I find it very, very concerning in that it's done anonymously, so anybody can say anything about anybody," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said.

 

Sixty-four Upper Darby police officers are listed on the Web site.

 

Chitwood said he fears unwarranted negative comments could have long lasting effects on his officers.

 

"What's to say I don't do something in the community and somebody slam bashed me and two, three years from now I go for a job and, oh wait a minute 'rateacop' said," Chitwood said.

 

"That's just ludicrous you have to take comments with a grain of salt," Sesto said. "For instance, there are restaurants out there with feedback systems they don't close down after somebody says something negative about them."

 

Here's an example of some the negative postings NBC 10 found.

 

Someone wrote about a cop in California saying, "I was tasered four times and beaten while lying in bed with my hands in the air."

 

A comment from Virginia read, "I guess he isn't a big enough man so he has to act like a cowboy cop. You are a poor excuse for a cop."

 

Chitwood said he is also concerned about his officer's personal safety.

 

"Somebody can go on and find out all types of information about an officer, marital status, home address, types of cars, who knows what's out there," Chitwood said.

 

There are some positive postings on the Web site.

 

Someone commended a Narberth officer, calling him, "fair and approachable. One of the most reasonable."

 

And that's why some think the site will help departments weed out the bad from the good.

 

Philadelphia police said they would not give a list of their officers to the Web site.

 

An attorney for the department said such a list could potentially jeopardize the lives of the officers and their families.