Part 8, “Watching People at a Celebration.”

(For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.)

From the public records, in November 2007 — Many people worked hard, and contributed time, effort, and funding to rebuild Whitewater’s Stone Stable. It was a proud moment for our city. I celebrated the efforts of those who worked so hard, and admired their dedication to our history. Here’s a picture of the Stone Stable that I took during reconstruction, that shows how much work had to be done:

Those who worked on that effort – I am very sure – did it for love of their community, and respect for our history. It was not a political matter for them, and the dedication ceremony was not a place to track celebrants and attendees.

Chief Coan and the City Clerk saw it differently – as a chance to be on the watch for John Adams.

The exchange appears below in black font, followed by the actual PDF documents I obtained, and then my commentary in blue font.

The exchange:

From: James Coan
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 4:49 PM
To: Michele Smith
Subject: Stone Stable Dedication

Michele,

How much do you want to bet that “John Adams” will be present for the Stone Stable dedication and reception on
the 17th (or maybe even taking photos)? I have a good mind to watch from my office. Otherwise, perhaps Alan or his designee could pan the crowd.

Jim

******

From: Michele Smith
Sent: Wednesday, November 07,2007 5:28 PM
To: James Coan
Subject: RE: Stone Stable Dedication

I never thought, but I agree. If I can, I will attend and take note of the attendees.

ms

******

From: James Coan
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 8:02 AM
To: Michele Smith
Subject: RE: Stone Stable Dedication

Thanks Michele! If I can, I will stop in my office and observe the event across the street.

JC

******

From: Michele Smith
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 200710:07 AM
To: James Coon
Subject: RE: stone Stable Dedication

Jim,

You are on the right track. See below the new posting on free WW today.

Ms

The files:

I have made the PDF files confirming this exchange available here — 2008-1 (7).

My comments:

1. Lurking from a Window of the Municipal Building? Did Coan go and watch from above? I don’t know, but he obviously considered it. Think about that, Whitewater — your proud ceremony was just a political hunting ground for him. Disgraceful.

2. Public Employee Assistance, Again. In this exchange, a public employee thinks about going to take note of the attendees, to aid Coan’s efforts. Maybe, for future events, Coan will be able to persuade the city to implant a chip in everyone’s arm, so that the city clerk will not have to tax her memory keeping track of the attendees.

3. Panning the Crowd. I have no idea if Coan did, in fact, ask Alan [Luckett] to pan the crowd so that Coan could catalog celebrants in the search for John Adams. I have no reason — at all — to think that he would do something like this, for political reasons. If he or others pan the crowd for artistic reasons, fine with me.

Next Up on Tuesday, March 4th at 2PM CST: Part 9, “Wikipedia? Yes, Wikipedia.”

Part 7, “Chief Coan’s Researcher.”

(For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.)

From the public records, in September 2007 and November 2007 — I’m not sure if Whitewater Police Detective Tina Winger ever found the intelligence she promised to find about a lawful political commentator, but Coan might have moved on to other police resources, in any event. Detective Ryan Weston, now on the force for over eight years, was willing to assist Coan’s effort.

The exchange appears below in black font, followed by the actual PDF documents I obtained, and then my commentary in blue font.

The exchange:

From: James Coan
Sent: Monday, September 17th, 2007 1:12 PM
To: Ryan Weston
Subject: Free Whitewater Website

Ryan,

Did you tell me that if someone email “John Adams” and that if he returns the message that you might have a chance to track him down? If so, I believe that I might have such an opportunity.

Chief Coan

******

From: Ryan Weston
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 7:20 AM
To: Michele Smith
Subject: Free Whitewater Email Info

Michele:

The Chief told me that you received a direct email from “John Adams”.

If you could do the following for me:

On you “lnbox” screen, right click on the email, choose “Options”. Next, highlight the information inside of the box that says “Internet header”. Right click and “copy”.

Paste the info on a New [sic] email and send it to me.

Thanks!

-Ryan

******

From: Michele Smith
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 8:00 AM
To: Ryan Weston
Cc: James Coan
Subject: RE: Free Whitewater Email lnfo

Here it is, Ryan.

Microsoft Mail lnternet Headers Version 2.0.
Received: from nz-out-Q506.google.com ([address] by mail.ci.whltewater.wi.us with Microsoft SMTPSVC (6.0.3790.3959);
Fri. 2 Nov 200717:38:21 -0500
Received: by nz-out-0506.google.com with SMTP id n1so732737nzf
for ; Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:38;17 -0700 (PDT)

Michele

The files:

I have made the PDF files confirming this exchange available here — 2008-1 (6).

My comments:

1. Public Resources, Public Time, Public Employees. This is a common theme throughout the files — these public employees spend their time this way.

2. The City Clerk’s Role. This is no conduct for someone that any citizen should be able trust, impartially. It’s not even close. If you have a problem, then how confident can you be of the Clerk’s role as an impartial representative of our city?

3. Detective Weston. Eight years on the force, with any number of crimes needing investigation, and Detective Weston asks the City Clerk for an email to track, involving lawful political speech. Is this why Weston took an oath? Weston might as well leave his uniform in the closet; it was not made for this sort of conduct.

4. Coan’s Signature Line. Coan contacts Weston for assistance, but it’s a cold request: Coan signs his name — ready? — “Chief Coan.” Who else does he imagine Weston will think he is? It’s not Jim, or James, but “Chief Coan.” Weston commits what I am convinced is the wrong conduct, and for someone who’s seemingly distant, and oddly formal, too.

5. The City Staff. Much is made about being “on staff,” but who’s overseeing the conduct of these city employees as they search for identities, etc? I have no idea.

Next Up on Tuesday, March 4th at NOON CST: Part 8, “Watching People at a Celebration.”

Part 6, “Asking About Former Residents.”

(For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.)

From the public records, in September 2007: If you once lived in Whitewater, but moved to a nearby town, that doesn’t mean that you’re free from Chief Coan’s suspicious gaze. In this exchange, Coan contacts a friend about someone who lives in nearby Cambridge, Wisconsin. The exchange appears below in black font, followed by the actual PDF documents I obtained, and then my commentary in blue font.

The exchange:

From: James Coan [mailto:JCoan@ci.whitewater.wi.us] Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 3:38 PM
To: [I have deleted, as I explain below] Subject: Question

Hi, hope all is well! I am wondering If you recall [I have deleted name — name appeared in the documents that I received] (sp?)? If so, do you think that he could be our “John Adams” (author of “Free Whitewater”)? Several people from the School System thought that it might be him. I don’t know the guy, but I’ve heard that he is kind of eccentric.

Jim

P.S. FYI, [I have deleted name] got a job as manager of [I have deleted name of employer]. Between living in a condo and working at [I have deleted name of employer], [name] is feeling like a “teenager” compared to the people she routinely interacts with. Take care and say hi to [name] for us!

P.S.S. [sic] [Name] and I went to ”3:10 To Yuma” the other night. Although it was pretty good, it was no “Das
Boot”. [Name] and I reminisced about our movie going days with you and [name]. It’s just not the same without
you!

******

From: [I have deleted name] Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 5:09 PM
To: James Coan
Subject: RE: Question

Hi Jim: I never thought of [name] but he kind of fits the mold, although he was so busy he had to leave the Park
Board and I believe he has relocated to Cambridge…my take on [name] was that he was not so much of a
complainer, he saw a problem/issue, brought It up and encouraged suggestions and solutions. Some of the stuff I
read in the FW was way too harsh for [name]…

Good to hear that [name] has a job she really enjoys; rumor is (OK, I am starting it) she is looking for a place YOU
can retire too [sic] (not her)! And, the “pain and suffering” she endures at [name of employer] is considered penance, correct?

I want to go to the Yuma movie, and also catch the new Jodie Foster flick. I think I can drag the HR Director to
one, since his wife is living in Utah for the next year, until she can retire. You are right, tho…it’s not the same
without you, [name], [name], and don’t forget [name] and [name]! Darn, we a;most had a bus full!

Say Hi to all; we hope to get back this fall and close on the house (keep your fingers crossed) but always enjoy hearing from you!

The files:

I have made the PDF files confirming this exchange available here — 2008-1 (5). Deletions from the City of Whitewater are in black throughout the documents, typically so that the city can shield the names of those who have complained about my blog. That’s fair enough — a person should be able to complain anonymously or pseudonymously.

There’s an inescapable contradiction, though — city officials worked to uncover my name, and left untouched the names of private citizens they suspected of being me, and deleted only the names of those who complained about me.

My deletions, of the names of private citizens, often ones ‘suspected’ of being me, are in red. Coan, and those who aided him bandied about names of private citizens, and those names are in the documents that I received, but I will not display those names the way these public officials shamefully discussed them among themselves.

I have also deleted the names of Coan’s friends. Remember, Whitewater: I have treated Coan with more privacy than he has treated his fellow residents.

My comments:

1. Harsh? I’ll leave it to others, after seeing how Coan views our fellow residents in his emails, if I have been harsh. You are free to form your own opinion. After all, it’s your right to hold an opinion.

2. Searching Far and Wide. Chief Coan initiates this email exchange: “I am wondering if you recall…” He does so during ordinary working hours, as a public employee, using public resources. The man that Coan is inquiring about is no criminal, he’s apparently someone who served our city on a public board, and then moved away.

Note, too, that Coan observes that rumor holds the man is eccentric. Does Coan think that makes the man more likely to be a critic? If conventionality favors Coan’s conduct, it would be far better that we should all be eccentric…

3. Problem Solver?. Please note the irony in the idea that the man about whom Coan inquires is, according to the reply, was someone who encouraged solutions. This is apparently in contrast to my approach.

So a man replies to Coan and uses the platitudes of a Successories card to say that one should encourage solutions, all the while ignoring Coan’s severe error of judgment in thinking that he — Coan — can use public time & resources to search for his lawful, political critics engaged in political and public commentary.

The man writing in reply to Coan cannot see the forest for the trees.

By the way, here’s a solution for you: Ask Coan to stop hunting his political, lawful critics on the public dime.

How’s that? I feel better already.

Next Up on Tuesday, March 4th at 10 AM CST: Part 7, “Chief Coan’s Researcher.” more >>

Part 5, “Running Plates on Citizen Photographers.”

(For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.)

From the public records, in September 2007, our Director of Public Works, Dean Fischer, asks Chief Coan to run the license plate number of an elderly man who had been taking pictures of a construction project on the east side of our city. The exchange appears below in black font, followed by the actual PDF documents I obtained, and then my commentary in blue font.

The exchange:

From: Dean Fischer
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 1:55 PM
To: James Coan
Subject: license plate

Jim,

We have an older gentleman who shows up every few days to take pictures of the East Town project. No big deal usually. Now I wonder if it might be “John Adams”. Will you run the plate number? [I have deleted — appears in original], Green Ford Ranger pickup truck.

Dean Fischer
Director of Public Works City of Whitewater
Phone 262-473-0540 ext 240
Fax 262-473-0549

******

From: James Coan
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:24 PM
To: Dean Fischer
Subject: RE: license plate

Dean,

Good thought as I think that anyone we spot taking photos of City projects might be a possible suspect. In this case though the plate comes back to a [I have deleted the name of the elderly citizen-photographer and his address]. [name of some Coan asked] knows the guy and says that [deleted by City of Whitewater — possibly a derogatory reference to the citizen]. She doesn’t now why he would be out taking photos of the East Town project, but she did not think him capable of being John Adams (of course it might be a person we least suspect). Let me know if the guy becomes a nuisance and maybe we can have an officer talk to him in order to find out what he might be up to.

Also, I have purposely been avoiding reading “Free Whitewater” so do you know if there have been any photos as of late?

Jim

******

From: Dean Fischer
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:01 PM
To: James Coan
Subject: RE: license plate

Jim,

I know [I have deleted name — appears in version from city] very well. He definitely is not John Adams. He is not a bother for taking pictures either. Just thought we should check it out. No pictures on the site as of lately. He now is into “you tube” cartoons.

Dean

The files:

I have made the PDF files confirming this exchange available here — 2008-1 (4). Deletions from the City of Whitewater are in black throughout the documents, typically so that the city can shield the names of those who have complained about my blog. That’s fair enough — a person should be able to complain anonymously or pseudonymously.

There’s an inescapable contradiction, though — city officials worked to uncover my name, and left untouched the names of private citizens they suspected of being me, and deleted only the names of those who complained about me.

My deletions, of the names of private citizens, often ones ‘suspected’ of being me, are in red. Coan, and those who aided him bandied about names of private citizens, and those names are in the documents that I received, but I will not display those names the way these public officials shamefully discussed them among themselves.

My comments:

1. Suspects. Coan uses the term suspect for a blogger. We have had any number of break-ins and robberies in the city — the people who might have committed those acts are suspects. Coan distorts the language of the law that he is sworn to uphold.

2. Taking Photos. So a man takes photos every few days of our East Town construction project, and Coan and Fischer decide that makes him a so-called suspect. Does it not occur to them that he’s taking pictures because he’s likely proud of the construction project in his town? When does taking a photograph, of a construction project in a small rural town, peacefully and lawfully, make a man a suspect for anything? Shameful.

3. Running Plates. Director of Public Works Dean Fischer thinks that he’s entitled to request that the police run a man’s license plate number because he took a few pictures of a common construction project (although one widely celebrated in our town). Why? Because he might be John Adams (no — I’m John Adams!). The man is no bother, by Fischer’s account — it’s a political motivation that Fischer has.

4. Photographers Beware. Chief Coan runs the plate, and then observes that Fischer had a “good thought as I [that is, Coan] think that anyone we spot taking photos of City projects might be a possible suspect.” If you have a camera, beware — they might run your plate, too.

5. Fischer’s Network?. Director of Public Works Fischer requests that the plate be run, but at the time he makes the request, he does not appear to know the identity of the man lawfully taking the photos. That leads me to think that Fischer was not there initially to see the man or his truck — someone else likely reported this information to Fischer, and he emailed Chief Coan.

Who might have reported it to Fischer? His public employees? Did Fischer have a network of public employees taking down plate numbers, if they thought someone might be a blogger? If so, why would they think that this was within the scope of their city employment.

Director of Public Works Fischer and Chief Coan write each other this way, and and yet Coan thinks I’m arrogant. Disgraceful.

6. Where is the City Manager? Director of Public Works Fischer and IT Administrator Nobling work for City Manager Kevin Brunner. What does he think about their conduct? I have no idea. Will he do anything meaningful about it? (I’ll have more about this at the end of my series.)

Next Up on Tuesday, March 4th at 8 AM CST: Part 6, “Asking About Former Residents.”

Part 4, “The List of Suspects.”

(For earlier parts of this series, please click this link: Witch-Hunting a Blogger in Whitewater, Wisconsin.)

Later in August, a private citizen writes to our City Clerk, Michele Smith, and lets Smith know that the citizen’s husband is not John Adams. (Of course not — I’m John Adams!) It’s a sad story, really, because it shows how private citizens are caught up in all this, and worse, how a city clerk who should be working on public matters is getting emails about a list of suspects. The exchange appears below in black font, followed by the actual PDF documents I obtained, and then my commentary in blue font.

The exchange:

From: [I have removed, as I explain below] Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 7:38 AM
To: Michele Smith
Subject: RE: Free Whitewater

Michele,

Please spread the word the that [I have removed husband’s name] is DEFINITELY NOT the writer behind Freewhitewater.com!!!!! I. looked at it this morning and spoke with [I have removed husband’s name] last night. You can definitely cross him off the short list of suspects’. [I have removed wife/writer’s name]

******

From: Michele Smith
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 8:47 AM
To: James Coan
Subject: FW: Free Whitewater

******

From: James Coan
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 9:03AM
To: ‘Wally McDonell’
Subject: FW: Free Whitewater

FYI

The files:

I have made the PDF files confirming this exchange available here — 2008-1 (3). Deletions from the City of Whitewater are in black throughout the documents, typically so that the city can shield the names of those who have complained about my blog. That’s fair enough — a person should be able to complain anonymously or pseudonymously.

There’s an inescapable contradiction, though — city officials worked to uncover my name, and left untouched the names of private citizens they suspected of being me, and deleted only the names of those who complained about me.

My deletions, of the names of private citizens, often ones ‘suspected’ of being me, are in red. Coan and those who aided him bandied about names of private citizens, and those names are in the documents that I received, but I will not display those names the way these public officials shamefully discussed them among themselves.

My comments:

1. Suspects. Look at the language that the citizen uses, and that the city clerk forwards along, uncorrected: suspects. It appears again, as you’ll see, in subsequent documents. It’s the language of the criminal law — those who are believed to have committed crimes are suspects.

I have engaged in lawful, constitutionally-protected speech of our American political heritage. I have committed no crimes, but they refer to me as a suspect. On my blog, I list others who have written pseudonymously: “Many of the greatest men of this republic published anonymously, among them Hamilton, Madison, Jay, Paine, and occasionally, John Adams himself.” I am just a common man, but I am no more a suspect than they were.

2. A List. Is the term ‘list’ merely figurative? I don’t know, but somehow a private citizen writes our city clerk, uses the term, and insists that her husband be taken off that short list. I have no idea how the woman knew there was a list, inquiry, or set of suspects, at all. The city clerk passes the information to Coan, who forwards it to our city attorney (‘Wally McDonell’).

Coan never writes back and rebukes the clerk — on the contrary — he forwards the email on! One more, I suppose, to cross off that list.

3. Involving Private People. It is the sign of a troubled police and political culture where private citizens are encouraged or motivated to aid in a political witch-hunt. As you’ll see in subsequent posts, Coan relies on private citizens, caught up in the fervor of it all, to help him try to identify me. This is how a public official, with a distorted perspective, leads private citizens astray.

Next Up on Monday, March 3rd at 3 PM CST: Part 5, “Running Plates on Citizen Photographers.”