Feb 27, 2009 7:55 am US/Eastern
Cops Busted For Making Lewd Comments On Facebook
Harrison, N.Y. Mortified After Hateful Words About Town's Female Supervisor, President Obama Spotted
By JOHN METAXAS, CBS 2 HD News
HARRISON, N.Y. (CBS) ―
In the Westchester County town of Harrison there's trouble brewing after controversial comments were posted on a police detective's Facebook page.
Now attorneys are being consulted about alleged racist and sexist comments.
Harrison has been around a lot longer than Facebook, but the suburban town is only now coming to grips with this 21st century technology.
"I'm embarrassed for the town of Harrison; for the people and the residents of this town," village attorney Robert Paladino said.
The town was buzzing Thursday after several police and town officers were discovered making crude sexual comments about their 74-year-old female town supervisor on their personal Facebook pages, with one making racist remarks about President Barack Obama.
"I don't think they should be saying things like that. It's not right," lifelong Harrison resident George Silano said.
"I think it's despicable. I don't think a grown man should have a Facebook. I mean that's little kids stuff," resident Chris Morales said.
The village attorney has launched an investigation, with disciplinary action possible, free speech concerns notwithstanding.
"We're taking this very seriously," Paladino said.
But apart from the offensive content, people here are wondering how could they post these comments in a semi-public forum?
Comments on Facebook can be private but you have to turn your privacy settings on. Either these officers did not know how to do that, or they forgot.
"It's sort of funny that someone in his position, who should be familiar, you know, with something like that, would do something so stupid," Facebook user Kevin Lipperman said.
Paladino said it's time older residents begin to understand what Facebook is all about.
"Facebook is not something our generation is conversant with," he said. "I think we need to understand more about Facebook and how it works."
If these officers had wanted to learn more about how Facebook works, they could have found that information very easily online. A copy of "Facebook for Dummies."
The Harrison Board of Police Commissioners has called a special meeting Thursday night to consider whether it will discipline the officers.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Bronx Fire Leaves Dozens Homeless Before Holidays 46 mins ago 
Schumer: Dems Ready To Go-It-Alone On Health Care 41 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments