Police Force Uses Unique Argument to Conceal Officers Identities

A Virginia police department is utilizing a state law to help disguise the identities of all its officers.

OpenOversightVA, a police transparency database that keeps records of all employees of Virginia police departments, asked the Chesterfield County Police Department for a list of their payroll.

The police department redacted 500 of the employees as they argued the employees could potentially work undercover.

Meaning their identity can be protected using Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act.

The folks at Fox News have more on the story:

Minium runs OpenOversightVA, a police transparency database that includes the names — and sometimes photos and disciplinary records — of some 27,000 employees from more than 200 Virginia law enforcement departments. The website also provides various public records, including police manuals, audits and contracts for technology like ShotSpotter, which uses acoustic sensors to detect possible gunshots and alert police.

But when Minium requested a list of the Chesterfield County Police Department’s payroll, the department redacted the names of all staff under the rank of lieutenant, more than 500 of about 530 total officers, according to Bodoh. The redacted names include new recruits, patrol officers and HR staff.

The department argued that the officers could go undercover someday and are therefore protected under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act, law, which exempts undercover officers. It’s an argument that, to Bodoh’s knowledge, hasn’t been tested in court.

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“Releasing the names of these officers would put the safety of undercover officers and the integrity of undercover investigations at risk,” a lawyer for the county told Minium in a letter.

Minium filed suit and the case was heard at the General District court level in late July.

Hiding the identity of all employees of the police department seems wrong.

Don’t get me wrong.

I am fully supportive of our police officers.

They put their lives on the line to ensure we are safe.

But…

The corrupt government can easily use police officers to push their agendas.

Resist The Mainstream shares more:

Despite these concerns, a substitute judge ruled in favor of the county, finding no violation of the Freedom of Information Act. Bodoh announced plans to appeal the judge’s decision, Fox reported.

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Bodoh emphasized that transparency in terms of payroll can help identify instances of fraud, nepotism and other questionable hiring practices by public agencies using taxpayer revenue.

He cited a recent case where a sheriff from Culpeper County faced indictment on bribery charges.

“My biggest concern is that other departments may begin to use this approach to withhold the information about their officers from public release,” Bodoh expressed.

The topic is relatively split.

On one hand, you have people who want police officers to be held accountable and on the other people are more sympathetic to police officers and their families being targeted:

Understandable or not, it’s unlawful for them not to disclose their name & badge number. As public servants, they don’t get a choice. I get they take a lot of flak, but if they can’t handle that, they’re in the wrong job. I know that’s not a popular stance, but it’s fact.

— Joan (@Nunyabiznizpeep) August 18, 2023

I believe that police identities need to remain public.

That might not be popular with everyone.

But hear me out.

An essential part of our government is the checks and balances that we have in place.

Police officers are a part of our local governments.

We need to be able to hold public servants accountable for their actions.

Especially public servants BECAUSE they are meant to help the people.

As I mentioned previously.

The government has and will continue to use the police to enforce its laws.

Just or unjust, it matters not.

That is why it’s crucial that the people have this information to hold the police accountable.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Am I wrong? Did I miss something?

I’d love to hear from you all.