Talk:Stoughton Police Department

WP:ORG Qualification and sources about "department" itself and not the officers who run and make up the department

I understand @SafariScribe is concerned about the article about Stoughton Police Department being challenged under the WP:ORG notability guideline.

It seems there may be a misunderstanding about the notability of the Stoughton Police Department under WP:ORG. While it's true that organizations need to meet certain criteria to have standalone Wikipedia articles, the Stoughton Police Department appears to easily clear that bar based on the information I've provided.

The key points to consider are:

1. Significant coverage: The department has been involved in multiple high-profile incidents, including child sex abuse cases and the murder of a pregnant woman allegedly groomed by officers. These are exactly the kind of significant events that would generate substantial media coverage.
2. Multiple independent sources: You mentioned adding multiple secondary sources about both the department and its officers. This is crucial, as it demonstrates that the department has been the subject of independent reporting and analysis.
3. Notability of component parts: The guideline states that "No organization is exempt from this requirement, no matter what kind of organization it is." However, it's important to note that the actions of the officers, especially in cases as severe as those mentioned, directly reflect on and involve the department as a whole. The department's policies, culture, and leadership are all relevant to these incidents.
4. Public interest: Given the severity and nature of the incidents you described, there's a clear public interest in having information about this police department readily available.
5. Scope of coverage: These incidents received coverage beyond just local news, which further strengthens the case for notability.

Based on the information provided, it appears that the Stoughton Police Department would indeed meet the notability criteria under WP:ORG. The multiple secondary sources I've added about both the department and its officers should be sufficient to establish notability, especially given the significant nature of the events involved. The department's actions and those of its officers are inextricably linked, and both contribute to the overall notability of the organization.

If there are specific concerns about the sources or the way the article is structured, those can be addressed. But the fundamental notability of the department, given the circumstances described, seems clear. ViolanteMD (talk) 11:56, 29 August 2024 (UTC)