Star One Smart Blog's

It seems the ivory tower-dwelling administrators on the 12th floor of the Memphis Police Department have some anonymous (but obviously well-informed) blogger critics. Bloggers who are so actively critical of the upper echelon that they've attracted lawyers.

These critics have annoyed Police Director Larry Godwin and the city of Memphis so much that they are slap-suing AOL to find out their identities. So they then can take action against them for their critical posts and comments, doubtless by using jack-booted thuggery (and...waterboarding!) .

The blog, MPD Enforcer 2.0 is operated by "Dirk Diggler" (a pseudonym probably covering several co-blogging individuals). MPD Enforcer 2.0 has been up and running since March. Most of the commenters are police officers.

Now, they have national attention, and a high-powered legal defense...

"Paul Alan Levy, an attorney with the Public Citizen Litigation Group, a Washington-based public interest law firm founded by Ralph Nader, will represent the anonymous bloggers at MPD Enforcer 2.0 whose identities are being sought by Police Director Larry Godwin and the city of Memphis.

"The lawsuit, filed in Shelby County Chancery Court, asks AOL to produce all information related to the identity of an e-mail address linked to MPD Enforcer 2.0, a blog popular with police officers that has been extremely critical of police leadership.

...

"Godwin and the city have asked the Circuit Court of Loudon County, Va., to subpoena Virginia-based AOL's Custodian of Records. The city's July 10 lawsuit asks that the records produced by AOL be sent to the law offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC.

"Levy said Wednesday afternoon that he hasn't decided whether to seek to quash the subpoena in Virginia or in Tennessee.

...

"Levy said he has been in contact with the city's lawyer, David L. Bearman, seeking the city's and Godwin's legal explanation for the request.

"I'm trying to get them to provide me with a copy of the sealed papers that will tell me what the basis for their claim is," said Levy, who has handled similar efforts to identify anonymous bloggers that helped create the legal standards applicable to the Memphis case."

I guess you know where I stand on protecting the rights of anonymous bloggers.

From MPD Enforcer 2.0...

"We feel that we can speak for the majority of Uniformed Patrol, as they are the purpose for this blog. We want to take pride in our city, our department and ourselves. A new day is on the horizon for Memphis. A day when we can look at police officers as a symbol of trust, respect and compassion. We are not looking to be placed on a pedestal, as the Mayor has poised himself. We only wish to be lifted from the burning ashes that is the Memphis Police Department. Lifted back into the community as partners for a common good. A common good that will once again describe the citizens and community of Memphis."

And, Memphis! Can't Memphis get anything right? The Fords. Memphis. Know for political corruption second only to Chicago (well, and Philadelphia), and unending scandals. Now, the Police Director may be corrupt or, at best, just a bullying tyrant unable to handle criticism.

Hang in there, men and women of the Memphis Police Department. We got your backs.

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Oh.


Did I mention 'John Ford' and 'corruption'?

;D
h/t Kate