Post Wins Access to PG Records

The Washington Post sought to obtain the records in several requests filed under the Maryland Public Information Act, beginning in January 2000. After Prince George’s officials refused the requests, The Post filed suit against the county last September.

The police records in dispute included written summaries of major crimes in the county; a roster including the name, rank, badge number and job assignment of every Prince George’s police officer; and investigative reports of fatal shootings by police.

The newspaper wanted the records in preparation for a series of stories published in July that revealed Prince George’s police shot and killed more people, per officer, that any other major police force in the nation from 1990 through 2000.

In the hearing, Prince George’s Chief Administrative Judge William D. Missouri ruled that most of the records sought were public information.

Missouri said he had grave concerns about granting access to investigative records about police shootings, calling them very sensitive files. But he ruled investigative files from inactive or closed cases should be made public. He also decided that police records known as commander’s information reports – internal summaries of major crimes and other incidents – should be available to newspapers.

The judge ruled that the police roster, citizen complaints against police and portions of the county’s risk management database should also be open to the public.

After the hearing Deputy County Attorney John A. Bielec said the county would likely appeal the decision.

- from The Washington Post