Community supportive of Johns’ names released

By Tyson Leonard

The Quinte area community has flocked to social media to express their concerns over a recent decision by the Belleville Police Service.

The BPS has released the names of the 14 men who were charged in relation to a prostitution bust last week in Belleville.

Deputy Chief Paul Vandegraaf, with the Belleville Police Service, said it was a clear-cut decision to release the names.

“Here at the BPS we have the standard media procedure that we use to guide us in decisions such as this, so that we don’t get caught up into releasing in one circumstance and not in another circumstance.”

Only in very specific circumstances would the BPS not release the names of people charged, said Vandegraaf.

“Occasionally we will not release a person’s name and that’s generally because we want to protect the victim of a particular crime and by identifying the charged person it could identify the victim.”

QNet News and other local news outlets have posed the question on their Facebook pages whether or not the BPS made the right decision.

As of Tuesday, 141 people commented on the Intelligencer’s page. The majority of the comments were in support of having the names made public.

“Absolutely!! A crime is a crime whether it’s a man being lonely. I also agree that the women should have their names broadcast as well……as they are committing the crime as well” said Terri Lynn Cassibo of Belleville.

Many agreed with Cassibo, saying the men broke the law therefore they deserve the punishment. Others cared less about the legality and more about what they saw as a violation of family values.

“I think that if you are willing to dishonour your vows to your wife and children, your name being released should be the least of the reward for being a douchebag,” said Jennifer Woodcock of Madoc.

Of those who argued against having the names posted, many said the men should be spared until they are proven guilty of the crime.

Louis Desjardins of Belleville said, “Nope. The names should be publicized only upon conviction.”

Very few commenters said the names should never be posted.