July 17, 2009
It took longer than I expected, but someone has finally sued Domelights, the unofficial Philadelphia Police Department messageboard. The Daily News reports the site’s owner, who posts under the username McQ, is “believed to be Fred McQuiggan, a Philadelphia police sergeant. McQuiggan, 47, of Torresdale, joined the force in March 1986.” The site is currently bursting at the seams. In the nine years it’s been around, Domelights has actually been a fascinating look at the Philadelphia Police Force. The signal-to-noise ratio is pretty bad, but read enough and you’ll find some interesting threads. How much can we take from it as a whole? Eh, like most things online, probably not too much. But it’s certainly somewhat of a look into the mindset of a Philly cop. And, really, it’s hilarious when police officers whine and bicker for all to see. Cops: They’re just like us! I can’t speak about the suit’s chances for success — from the Guardian Civic League, the lawsuit alleges the site has created a hostile work environment for minority officers and is updated on city computers by on- and off-duty cops — but this McQ (I’m even originally from Torresdale!) hopes it stays open. As a resident of Philadelphia, I think if cops want to write about their jobs on a public forum, please let them. Promote a healthy distrust in authority! And, now, time to get a good deal on boots.

It took longer than I expected, but someone has finally sued Domelights, the unofficial Philadelphia Police Department messageboard. The Daily News reports the site’s owner, who posts under the username McQ, is “believed to be Fred McQuiggan, a Philadelphia police sergeant. McQuiggan, 47, of Torresdale, joined the force in March 1986.” The site is currently bursting at the seams.

In the nine years it’s been around, Domelights has actually been a fascinating look at the Philadelphia Police Force. The signal-to-noise ratio is pretty bad, but read enough and you’ll find some interesting threads. How much can we take from it as a whole? Eh, like most things online, probably not too much. But it’s certainly somewhat of a look into the mindset of a Philly cop. And, really, it’s hilarious when police officers whine and bicker for all to see. Cops: They’re just like us!

I can’t speak about the suit’s chances for success — from the Guardian Civic League, the lawsuit alleges the site has created a hostile work environment for minority officers and is updated on city computers by on- and off-duty cops — but this McQ (I’m even originally from Torresdale!) hopes it stays open. As a resident of Philadelphia, I think if cops want to write about their jobs on a public forum, please let them. Promote a healthy distrust in authority!

And, now, time to get a good deal on boots.