By Carlos Miller
The Detroit police union didn’t want you to see the face of a cop accused of stealing more than $26,000 in reward money from a police tip hot line.
They claimed the mugshot, which was taken when he was booked into jail earlier this month, was part of his personnel file, and therefore not available for public disclosure.
Attorneys for the Detroit Free Press newspaper argued that this was a ridiculous claim.
Then again, if you’re familiar with the Detroit Police Department, it’s possible that they are recruiting officers directly from the jails, which would very well make the mugshots part of their personnel files.
But all snarkiness aside, even personnel files should be covered under the public records laws.
But obviously the Detroit Police Officers Association has enough clout where they could supersede common open records laws that ensure a transparent government.
And they have enough gall to claim that a mugshot of an arrested officer is not a public record, even though mugshots of anybody else arrested for a crime are public record.
The issue made it the Michigan Court of Appeals, who thankfully ruled this week on the side of common sense and common law.
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6 responses so far ↓
1 sickntired // Jul 31, 2009 at 10:29 PM
I tell you that the cops are the new gangs on the streets…
2 Packratt // Jul 31, 2009 at 10:44 PM
…and even then they still made the press jump through the hurdle of having to file a FOI request after the judge’s ruling.
Which, of course, is something they never have to do to get a mere mortal’s mugshot.
3 Carlos Miller // Jul 31, 2009 at 10:46 PM
But now we’re going to do our part in making sure this becomes a national story rather than a regional story.
Irony can be a bitch some times.
4 John // Jul 31, 2009 at 11:27 PM
* The whole city of Detroit is collapsing. The city is going to have to declare bankruptcy because of ridiculously generous pension plans for cops and firemen.
* The school system is contemplating bankruptcy as well.
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/07/detroit-public-school-system-ponders.html
* Remember the mayor who was arrested for lying about sending sexual text messages to his aide? Yep – from Detroit.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,340939,00.html
* The latest “renovation” plan for Detroit seems to be leveling entire neighborhoods with a bulldozer.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the major sports franchises start to leave for more diverse, vibrant city economies in other US states or Canada.
5 Michaelk42 // Aug 1, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Streisand Effect: ENGAGE!
It’s really funny how police “don’t make the law, only enforce it” and how something is always OK if it’s legal… until the law doesn’t favor the police union or makes an officer look bad, or a criminal…
6 Pinandpuller // Aug 2, 2009 at 12:28 AM
“Don’t stop believing…”
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