Composing a letter to police

Miami is having trouble with their local police. I know this is stuff a dozen or so cities have already gone through and resolved, and I'm looking to help Miami do the same. We want to help them establish a liaison with the police, and to have it in writing what is and isn't allowed. We want to reassure the cops that they have no reason to be anxious about us, we want to explain why we do what we do, and we want to keep it brief enough that the cop won't go 'tl;dr'.

Miami Anons: Help needed with Police!
^this thread explains why I'm working on this. I've not yet found a miami anon to be the liaison (there may already be a liaison, I've not yet made contact with them). When I do, I'll get more details here. I'm also hoping we can get some lawfags to research the relevant laws for the city of Miami (masks, protest permits, etc). I'll pen a draft shortly. I appreciate any help honing it; and if you've written a similar letter to your local police, please post it here for reference.

[Officer's name],
I am writing to you on behalf of the anti-scientology demonstrators known collectively as 'Anonymous.' By now, you're aware that these protests are planned as a long-term campaign against Organized Scientology. We have no doubts this raises a number of questions in your mind, and a number of concerns as well. It is my purpose here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
First, let me assure you that we intend to protest in a strictly legal manner. We have no interest in intimidating, bullying, or being violent towards anybody. We appreciate your help in ensuring that none of us are actively intimidated, bullied, or assaulted.
One of the first questions on your mind, most likely, is why we wear masks. The Church of Scientology would like to persuade you that it is to intimidate them - they would liken us to the KKK, protesting outside a predominantly black southern-baptist church. This could not be further from the truth.
We wear masks and take steps to hide our identity because Organized Scientology has demonstrated a pattern of cruel behavior towards critics. They have stalked, assaulted, harassed, and even framed critics. Organized Scientology has a number of convictions with time served for doing just this. Sadly, they have far more success stories, where they actively destroy the careers and personal lives of their critics. We would be happy to provide you with further details (and evidence backing up our claims) if you remain skeptical.
We also intend no harm to members of the Scientology. We consider them to be victims of a mind-control cult and global pyramid scheme. It is our hope to educate and liberate these people. Intimidating them is not part of our plan.
And despite what they say, they are unintimidated. The cult's leadership is certainly concerned, as we've demonstrated our numbers and our resolve, but Scientologists themselves are unafraid of us, and rightly so. We mean them no harm. They are unhappy at what they perceive as unjust criticism of their beliefs, but they will not listen to these criticisms. Rather, they take photos of us, hire private investigators to track us, attempt to have us arrested, attempt to label us terrorists, and in general take every step possible to shut us up and deny us our constitutional rights.
We would like to open up a line of dialog with you. The first issue we wish to resolve is to disambiguate the law - it would be useful for us to have it in writing whether or not we need protest permits, whether or not we are permitted to wear masks (and what ordinance prohibits it, if not), whether or not we are permitted to carry signs, to stand in place, how far we must keep from the Scientology Org entrance, and so on. I assure you that any direction you provide us here will be followed without exception.
I would welcome a face-to-face meeting whenever it is convenient for you. I will be contacting you by phone shortly to arrange one.
Thank You,
XXXX

Ideally this would be sent by the person volunteering to be the liaison. Again, I don't know all the details of the current situation, and depending on whether first contact has been made or not it may change the style or tone of the letter.

thanks man

Originally Posted by Consensus

Ideally this would be sent by the person volunteering to be the liaison. Again, I don't know all the details of the current situation, and depending on whether first contact has been made or not it may change the style or tone of the letter.

I'm a professional writer with media and law enforcement contacts- would you mind terribly if I post a revised version?

I am also somewhat concerned about wording ha makes the sender out to be a 'representative' of anonymous, which appears to me to present possible legal risks for anyone ho signs their name to it. One who does send such a documet should not claim actual membership.

the touble is who the hell will send it.....

FWIW here's what I had to send after 5/10:
"May 12, 2008
City Manager Farmington Hills, City Council Farmington Hills, Chief of police Farmington Hills
I wish to draw your attention to a serious problem but I encountered while exercising my constitutional right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly at the demonstration against the so-called “Church” of Scientology on May 10, 2008.
As background, you should know that this demonstration was the fourth such demonstration and part of the global movement to expose the abuses and criminal activities of the so-called “Church” of Scientology. These demonstrations have and will be occurring on a monthly basis in every country on earth where the cult operates. Each of the monthly demonstrations has focused on a different abuse of the cult, such as its fraudulently obtained tax exemption, its policy of forcing its members to disconnect from their friends and family, and other abuses. The issue to be highlighted on this past May 10 was its policy of attacking, harassing and destroying anyone who dares to criticize it. This policy is known as “Fair Game”.
The demonstrations in Farmington Hills have, as the hundreds of demonstrations around the world, been orderly, peaceful, and lawful. We have taken the position that we will cooperate with the police and comply with their suggestions and directions, even when, as happened here in February we were told by the Farmington Hills police to remove our masks at the request of the so-called “Church” of Scientology, even though the wearing of masks is legal under the circumstances.
Ironically enough, the wearing of masks is in part due to the so-called “Church” of Scientology’s policy of “fair game”.
On May 10, 2008 a Farmington Hills police vehicle was once again parked in the parking lot of the so-called “Church” of Scientology. At the very least this gives the impression that the department has taken sides on the issue, and at worst, makes it appear as if the department is acting as an agent for the so-called “Church” of Scientology. If this is the result of claims by the so-called “Church” of Scientology that they are threatened, then the department should do its own investigation into whether these claims have any validity. Their national spokesman appeared on CNN on May 8, 2008 and claimed that the demonstrators have made threats, but it was pointed out that the FBI has found no basis for this allegation.
Research and investigation will easily show that the threat is from the so-called “Church” of Scientology. One needs only to “Google” the terms “operation snow white”, “Paulette Cooper”, and “scientology fair game policy” to verify the systematic attacks on any one who exercises their first amendment rights to criticize it. Indeed, Time magazine in 1991 published a cover story entitled “Scientology: Cult of Greed and Power”, and spent the next 10 years and millions of dollars to ultimately vindicate itself by proving that the story is true. You will find that the so-called “Church” of Scientology’s “operation snow white” involved breaking into 136 government agencies and resulted in the criminal convictions of 11 top scientologists, including the wife of its founder L. Ron Hubbard. See also an ABC news report verifying the ”fair game” policy and its secret police squad(OSA): http://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=AdUzINnm0qA
My particular concern on May 10, 2008 was that on two occasions I attempted to summon the police officers so that I could discuss certain concerns, and otherwise engage in a dialog and solicit any suggestions that they may have. On both occasions the officers refused to merely drive the vehicle less than 100 feet to determine why I was summoning them. On one of the occasions, since they had refused to drive across Middle Belt, I walked across the street and as close as I could to where they were parked without stepping on the so-called “Church” of Scientology’s property. Again the officers refused to drive their vehicle approximately 50 feet to determine why I was summoning them. They would not have even needed to leave their vehicle to find out. For gosh sakes I could’ve been having a heart attack or other medical problem.
During this time the police officers were readily accessible to people affiliated with the so-called “Church” of Scientology, and talked to them on a number of occasions. Thus I was treated differently for exercising my first amendment rights.
The individuals who have been demonstrating since the bitter cold days of February, have gone out of their way to keep the department informed of their activities, cooperated with them, and have in fact, invited the department to operate in close proximity to them for their own protection, and that of the officers of the department. Indeed if the police officers location was based on actual threat it would make sense to be close to the demonstrators.
Although many wear of masks for their own protection (I was not wearing a mask on May 10, 2008), the actions and plans of this movement against the so-called “Church” of Scientology are no secret and can be viewed by any one at Enturbulation.org. The United States Supreme Court has indicated that United States citizens have the right to express themselves anonymously. The actions of the Farmington Hills police department on May 10, 2008 do not reflect well on its impartiality, professionalism, or its commitment to the constitution and the protection of the constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech.
As a courtesy I’m advising you of the circumstances in hopes that these problems can be corrected internally rather than by higher authorities.
Because of my reasonable concerns of retaliation by the so-called “Church” of Scientology, and in light of my constitutional right to do so, I wish at this time not to disclose my identity. Indeed, a citizen’s treatment by government should not depend on who they are.
You may however contact me by way of e-mail at: .
I also urge all of you to do simple research into the so-called “Church” of Scientology. I believe that you will find that not only were the actions of the department unprofessional, but will ultimately prove to be a major embarrassment for appearing to be the agents of a corrupt organization."

i like that letter..... should i edit it for our uses?

Originally Posted by infinitysnake

I'm a professional writer with media and law enforcement contacts- would you mind terribly if I post a revised version?

Please do!

And the other letter is fantastic too. I was just trying to get the ball rolling.

You're right, it is a challenge to write 'for' anonymous while claiming not to *speak* for anonymous. That's largely why this subforum exists - so ideas can be expressed, voted up or down, edited, and so on. It has to be a group project to have any validity.

Posted on this site (its a good one):

Open Letter to Farmington Hills, Michigan Authorities From Anon, Re: Scientology Protests The Frame Problem

thanks so much guys

There is a typo in the first line

I wish to draw your attention to a serious problem but I encountered while exercising my constitutional

I think next time we should wait for the positive consensus of everyone before sending a letter...We had someone here who is used to send letters to law enforcement and the media who wanted to help.

Just some thoughts:

1. Always ask someone else to proofread what you've written. What makes immediate and obvious sense to you does not always do so to someone else. Be very careful of assuming your intent is clear -- to someone unfamiliar or not neck-deep in what you're writing about, it more than likely is not. Fresh eyes will also pick up on duplicated words, typos, and the like.

2. Eloquence does not always equal verbosity, nor does simple equate to stupidity. Clear, to-the-point statements will serve your message far better than giving your reader an "Inside the Actor's Studio" backstage look at every single sentence. Think of what you mean to say, and SAY it.

3. Somewhat related to the first point, is to always keep in mind your audience. If this is to the police, be succinct, factual, and respectful. The recipient does not necessarily agree with your position. Nor does he have to. This is not the place to argue the crimes of the CoS, but to address the particular instance or concern at hand with regards to Anonymous and the police.


"I write on behalf of demonstrators who protest the organization of Scientology. These protests have been organized as a long-term campaign, and in light of this, I wish to facilitate communication between the [Police of City] and those participating in the demonstrations, known collectively as 'Anonymous'.

These protests are arranged with the intent to inform; those participating have no wish engage in any unlawful acts, and as such greatly appreciate [Precinct]'s help in ensuring no one is actively intimidated, bullied, or otherwise harassed.

One of the hallmarks of these protests is the usage of masks and other methods to disguise participants' identity. This is in no way an attempt at intimidation, but a means of protecting the participants from an organization that is well-documented in its history of harassing critics. Please be assured that identification will be provided privately at any officer's request.

In light of open communication, I would greatly appreciate an understanding of what [your precinct] requires to ensure this demonstration is lawful and safe for all. Some issues: it would be useful for us to have it in writing whether or not we need protest permits, whether or not we are permitted to wear masks (and what ordinance prohibits it, if not), whether or not we are permitted to carry signs, to stand in place, how far we must keep from the Scientology Org entrance, and so on. Any direction supplied by you will be followed without exception.

I would like to conduct a personal interview at your convenience, and will be contacting your office by phone to arrange one."

Originally Posted by Scythe

There is a typo in the first line

I wish to draw your attention to a serious problem but I encountered while exercising my constitutional

I think next time we should wait for the positive consensus of everyone before sending a letter...We had someone here who is used to send letters to law enforcement and the media who wanted to help.

This was an issue that was personal to me, and done before I even saw this thread.
In prior dealings with the authorities I have made clear that I am speaking only on my own behalf and do not speak for anyone else. This I will continue to do. I have consulted with the others here locally and have thoughtfully considered their ideas.

Anonymous and the Police

Some good example letters in that link too.

I hope people all contribute their own stories and letters, and we can compile a guide for police interaction.

Well what letter should i use?

My letter was particular to the circumstances, and personal to me. I did not intend it to be a template, or even a suggestion (although anyone is free to use it in any way).