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