L.A. Stops Naming Officers in Shootings

[Judi Lynn]

L.A. Stops Naming Officers in Shootings
By Associated Press
February 7, 2006, 12:33 PM EST


LOS ANGELES -- The city Police Commission is no longer releasing the names of officers involved in shootings.

The Police Commission made the change, overturning a 25-year-old policy, because officers' identities are protected under state law, said commission President John W. Mack.

Police union officials had long argued that releasing officers' names could expose them to danger, and union official had indicated they were prepared to sue over the disclosures, said Hank Hernandez, the organization's general counsel.

"This has nothing to do with whether or not the media should have access or the public should have access to this information," said Bob Baker, the LAPD union president. "There are people who could use (this information) for not legitimate purposes. And that's what our concern is."
(snip/...)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-la-police-shootings,0,7388857.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[High Plains]

1. Ah, more secrecy in government.

Gotta protect the killer cops.

[zonmoy]

4. makes me wonder what crimes and criminals they are covering up.

[Angry Girl]

2. Amerika - The NEw, IMPROVED Police State!

Lady Justice is weeping.

[SoCalDem]

3. Another row on the blue wall

:(

[hughee99]

5. It seems to me that the politicians were not pushing for this

so much as the police union was. Should we hail this as a union victory?

[HuffleClaw]

6. a truly scary development

when secrecy becomes commonplace, such abuses can only increase.

[Algorem]

7. when are they going to start wearing masks like that NSA cop?

[951-Riverside]

8. Its really suprising John Mack agreed to this n/t