Who watches the watchmen?
No one, apparently:
Public access to records used in police disciplinary proceedings will be cut off after a recent decision by the California Supreme Court.
The high court’s Aug. 31st ruling means that the County of San Diego Civil Service Commission does not have to give newspaper reporters tape recordings and documents related to the administrative hearing of a local police officer who had appealed a termination notice.
In the long term, the ruling will likely thwart the public’s ability to access administrative appeals by law enforcement officers who have been disciplined, including such basic information as the name of the officer involved.
In a 6-1 decision, the Supreme Court held that the records are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act. The court, in an opinion written by Justice Ming Chen, seized on a statute that exempts from disclosure law enforcement personnel records held by the officer’s “employment agency.”
I can see keeping some info (address, ss#, etc.) confidential but disciplinary action of those entrusted with public safety should not be secret.
September 18th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Hey! If you don’t have to tell what action was taken against law officer misconduct or criminal activity, you don’t have to take any action and the price you can demand for the protective services is total obedience for those times when you want the law and the law abiding violated for your convenience and/or profit or other type of gain.
Sounds a lot like the banana republics and their death squads and enforcement squads are catching on in San Diego, doesn’t it?