California LDS Cops Engaging in Surveillance?

[_Mister Scratch]

I noticed this over on the aptly named MADboard, thanks to Smac, who is that board's version of the AP:

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1403369.html

Of particular interest is this passage:

For the past two weeks, Sacramento leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been on high alert.

They are hiring extra security to watch over the Folsom temple, and asking members to drive by church buildings late at night. Mormons in law enforcement are keeping track of Internet chatter to find out where protests will be held.

"Our members in law enforcement know where to look for this kind of stuff," said Lisa West, spokeswoman for the church in the Sacramento region. She added that they are doing this on their own time. "There's a lot of volatility in the air, so we're asking people to keep their eyes and ears open."

What stands out to me about this "revelation" is the fact that LDS law enforcement officers are using their training and resources to "monitor" the gay sympathizers. Also noteworthy is Sis. West's hastening to add that this "surveillance" is being done "on their own time." I wonder: are they using police databases and other kinds of resources in order to help carry out these rather dubious-sounding activities? It sounds a trifle bit suspicious, in any case.

[_Bond James Bond]

I noticed this over on the aptly named MADboard, thanks to Smac, who is that board's version of the AP:

LOL. Now if you want to increase the traffic of this board get him over here starting threads. He must google "Mormon" and "LDS" and everything else cause he puts out a lot of threads.

[_skippy the dead]

I noticed this over on the aptly named MADboard, thanks to Smac, who is that board's version of the AP:

LOL. Now if you want to increase the traffic of this board get him over here starting threads. He must google "Mormon" and "LDS" and everything else cause he puts out a lot of threads.

He definitely spends a good deal of his time searching for LDS stories. I suspect he's got an automated search (Yahoo alarm or somesuch) that makes it easy for him.

With that being said, I'd rather see the church ask its LEOs to provide security in their off-hours than your average run-of-the-mill member without training or judgment. And of course they're going to use whatever resources they can to see if they need to add some security to various sites. I don't see anything nefarious about this - it just makes sense, given what's happening to LDS chapels around the country.

[_Mister Scratch]

With that being said, I'd rather see the church ask its LEOs to provide security in their off-hours than your average run-of-the-mill member without training or judgment. And of course they're going to use whatever resources they can to see if they need to add some security to various sites. I don't see anything nefarious about this - it just makes sense, given what's happening to LDS chapels around the country.

Oh, I agree that the Church has every right to protect its investments and assets. I just wonder if this is the right way to go about it. Obviously, the Brethren are penny-pinching in this instance, asking police officers to work security detail despite the fact that these guys and gals already have full-time jobs. If the Church wants heightened security, it ought to ship out the guys who get paid to work Church Security.

Furthermore, this seems somewhat like a case of the police potentially trying to 'serve two masters.' It would not surprise me in the least if the Brethren, or local leadership, asked the cops to provide "dossiers" on key figures within the SSM movement. I would also expect that they are keeping tabs on any suspected "subversives" within the LDS ranks. Heck, over on MAD there is a threat about apparently heightened censorship at BYU---allegedly, there is some arcane rule banning the combination of the words "gay" and "mor" in any printed materials. DCP proudly affirmed this censorship, by the way.

[_Mister Scratch]

Update! The Wrong-Headed Wench just dropped the following "steaming" post:

We had an off duty officer standing with us when we were holding signs. However, he did it on his own but informed his department. He couldn't hold signs or particpate in any way and stood behind the group at all times. He had his gun and badge under a vest. We had a lot of police car drive bys. At a more rowdy corner where No people had gathered to oppose Yes people I saw three cars with flashing lights parked next to everyone. I have a reliable report of a police car stationed at a ward buillding in Mission Viejo and Yorba Linda two weeks ago from a member in each ward.

by the way....this was a tactic in making the first Mormons really scary so it was necessary to stamp them out. Not only can we buy votes....we have a secret militia embedded in the police department! Watch out world....if we can't buy your votes we will out gun you. Or something.

Some interesting choice in words here. IMHO. Also interesting is the fact that the off-duty officer was essentially told not to participate.

[_mentalgymnast]

If the Church wants heightened security, it ought to ship out the guys who get paid to work Church Security.

Logistically and in specific detail, how would guess/think that work?

Regards,
MG

[_Mister Scratch]

If the Church wants heightened security, it ought to ship out the guys who get paid to work Church Security.

Logistically and in specific detail, how would guess/think that work?

Regards,
MG

Simple: The LDS Church pays guys to head out and protect the chapels and temples. End of story.

[_skippy the dead]

Logistically and in specific detail, how would guess/think that work?

Regards,
MG

Simple: The LDS Church pays guys to head out and protect the chapels and temples. End of story.

Quite often folks hire off-duty cops who show up in their squad car and uniforms to provide security (in my hometown, this is sometimes required for festival organizers and such). In this case, it would seem that the church has been able to do the same thing, minus the paying part. If they can get free services out of their members, then more power to them. Sure beats the usual hourly fee. And it beats the silly idea of sending out guys from SLC, especially since I'm sure there's not enough to do the job.

Based on the senseless vandalism that we've seen so far, I still think this is a valid solution.

[_Mister Scratch]

Quite often folks hire off-duty cops who show up in their squad car and uniforms to provide security (in my hometown, this is sometimes required for festival organizers and such). In this case, it would seem that the church has been able to do the same thing, minus the paying part. If they can get free services out of their members, then more power to them. Sure beats the usual hourly fee. And it beats the silly idea of sending out guys from SLC, especially since I'm sure there's not enough to do the job.

Based on the senseless vandalism that we've seen so far, I still think this is a valid solution.

Sure, sure. Plus, this way the Church gets to neatly sidestep the problem of access to certain kinds of police resources. As the Sacramento Bee article pointed out, these LDS police are doing more than simply showing up in uniform and working security detail at chapels and temples. They are also conducting Internet "surveillance," and looking to track down potential "subversives."

[_skippy the dead]

Sure, sure. Plus, this way the Church gets to neatly sidestep the problem of access to certain kinds of police resources. As the Sacramento Bee article pointed out, these LDS police are doing more than simply showing up in uniform and working security detail at chapels and temples. They are also conducting Internet "surveillance,"

Yes, because you need special police tools and training to "keep track of internet chatter to find out where protests will be held". We've all been doing it, even without fancy equipment. "Surveillance" is your spin. Protest locations are well-publicized on the interwebs - the LEOs are just keeping an eye on where they'll be. Not unreasonable, given the amount of vandalism and threats of vandalism.

and looking to track down potential "subversives."

Where do you get that from the article?