This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LAPD's New Blogger Warns Against Anonymous Commenters
Photo by Zach Behrens/LAist
Over at the Los Angeles Police Department's blog, Lieutenant Rick Banks as been assigned as the "Officer in Charge," and in his introduction post, he touts the success of the web tool and how it has been valuable for the department. But he goes on with a warning to those anonymous finger pointers. "The blog allows you to have a good amount of influence and more with complete anonymity..."
Unfortunately, people take advantage of being anonymous. People find it very easy to make accusatory remarks and point fingers at others without having to provide complete, factual and accurate background information or context and that is irresponsible. On occasion, I have been unable to publish several comments because they included explicit, inappropriate or slanderous language and were personal attacks. I will not post a comment that will help perpetuate a rumor or an unfounded accusation. The Department welcomes differences of opinion, and those opinions will be published as long as they are well within the guidelines of the disclaimer. You can illustrate how strongly you feel about a topic without the use of profanities or abbreviations of profanity. This will make it easier for me to publish your opinions, maximizing the impact of your comment and inspiring others to share their thoughts.
We also leave him with this tough question and conversation topic: In a public run forum, no matter the content and beyond "community standards", is it legal to censor comments? We ask because at the City of Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, a topic of discussion with city attorneys breached this very same topic of dealing with public submissions on the web. The attorney's said it's a first amendment issue and that you either leave it open or you close it. It's not a two-way road.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
