Roanoke police have launched an investigation into a MySpace.com Web page that encourages people to identify "snitches" they believe have cooperated with authorities.

Police say they are concerned that names and pictures of supposed police informants or witnesses appear without any basis in fact. They also fear that the Web page could spark retaliatory violence.

A picture of Police Chief Joe Gaskins appears on the Web page along with flashing sirens, a police car and an anti-police rap song by Public Enemy.

"That's a dangerous page," said Nikita Thomas, who said one of the men labeled a "snitch" on the MySpace page is a distant cousin. "That's just like slandering people -- snitching when they're not. Then you end up getting people killed."

Roanoke police Lt. Libby Legg said the department has received no reports of any offenses, violent or otherwise, stemming from the content of the Web page.

Citing the ongoing investigation, Legg said she could not discuss when police discovered the Web site or say what crimes, if any, might have been committed.

David Clementson, a spokesman for the Virginia Attorney General's Office, declined to discuss the specific Web page but noted that someone found to have intimidated a witness could be charged with obstruction of justice.

The Web page's background consists of stop signs warning "STOP SNITCHING," and its stated purpose is to identify any "rat" who gives authorities incriminating information on someone else.

Several postings make disparaging remarks about accused informants. One profanity-laden diatribe defends one of the supposed "snitches" and suggests his accuser probably had a personal beef.

Police declined Friday to say whether investigators know who created the Web page, and they wouldn't say whether they have contacted MySpace or tried to have the page removed.

Messages left Thursday and Friday seeking comment from MySpace officials were not returned.

A "Safety Tips" section on MySpace urges people to report "harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content" to the Web site or to authorities.

The site also says MySpace takes precautions to ensure member account information is kept private.

The Web page identifies its creator only as a single 26-year-old man from Roanoke whose occupation is "KILLIN RATS." A link from the page purports to show step-by-step instructions on how to cook crack cocaine.

Gaskins' picture appears above images of rat traps, rat poison and the Orkin man. On Thursday, Gaskins would say only that he "recently" heard about the Web page but had not seen it. The Web page lists a signup date of Dec. 22.

"I'm going to look into it," Gaskins said Thursday. "It's not the priority in my life."

Law enforcement officials nationwide have been frustrated by the emergence of stop-snitching T-shirts and videos seeking to intimidate witnesses.

A Web site called Whosarat.com identifies and provides information on thousands of supposed informants.

Anthony Capone, a spokesman for the site, said it exists to provide defense lawyers, private investigators and others with information to help discredit informants.

Capone said he doesn't condone violence against informants but also doesn't believe in people telling on others in exchange for favors from authorities.

"They know what they were getting into," he said. "When you become an informant, you know people aren't going to like it."

After viewing the "stop snitching" MySpace page, Capone said, "That's kind of crossing the line."