City tries to block link to police Web site

[NYVet]

http://sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071103/SHE0101/711030513/1973



A Sheboygan woman who runs a Web site often critical of Mayor Juan Perez has been ordered by the city to remove a Sheboygan Police Department link on her unrelated business site, a demand a legal expert says the city has no right to make.

In a move initiated by Perez, City Attorney Steve McLean sent a cease-and-desist letter earlier this month to Jeni Reisinger, who was among the leaders of a mayoral recall effort last year, officials acknowledged Friday.

The letter, dated Oct. 19, states, "maintenance of this link could be construed as having been authorized or endorsed by the city and/or its police department" and should be removed "until such time as the city were to authorize such a link."


Madison attorney Bob Dreps said the law is clear that neither Reisinger nor anyone else needs permission to link to the police Web site.

<snip>

The situation has also prompted a brief police investigation, after Reisinger replied to McLean's letter by saying she had received permission for the link from police Officer John Winter, who created the Web site, Perez said. Perez told Police Chief David Kirk of Winter's involvement, and police then contacted Reisinger and Winter to confirm that was the case, Kirk said.

[wtmusic]

1. There's trouble in Sheboygan. nt

[ixion]

2. hmmm... if she's linking to their top level domain, I'm not sure there's anything they can do about

it.

[DCKit]

3. More empty Rethuglican threats and intimidation. nt