Thursday, December 16, 1999
Law keeps police officers' personal information private
BY ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — A law that takes effect today will ban the public from receiving personal information about police officers, including their addresses, phone numbers and the names of their family members.
Defense attorneys say the law will compromise the ability of lawyers and others to investigate police misconduct and discrimination cases.
But Mike Taylor, spokesman for the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, said the law removes a basic concern expressed by many officers.
“Now law enforcement officers can do their job without the fear that the person they're locking up will find out all this personal information and use it against them or hold it over their head,” said Officer Taylor, the state FOP's secretary and a Columbus patrol officer.
The law began as a Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Scott Oelslager, R-Canton, that would allow people to receive public records of any kind in Ohio by mail. State Rep. Jeff Jacobson, R-Brookville, added the ban on releasing police information.
An exemption allows members of the media to receive officers' names, addresses and the name and address of any public agency employing the officer's spouse, ex-spouse or child.
The law also prohibits jail or prison inmates from receiving most records regarding a criminal investigation or prosecution.
Fred Gittes, a Columbus lawyer whose firm has successfully investigated female and black officers' claims of discrimination in the Columbus Police Department, said the law will hinder investigations.
Having the ability to receive officers' home phone numbers is crucial, he said.
“If I had to go talk to people at the police department, it would be a joke,” Mr. Gittes said. “No white officers would talk to me and provide supporting evidence in front of their peers, who might be racists. At home, they're much more willing to.”
The Ohio Newspaper Association fought the state FOP for six years over the police information issue. Following the “good sense” ruling, the association reluctantly agreed to the media exemption, said Frank Deaner, the association's executive director.
“The sticking point had always remained how you treat home addresses,” Mr. Deaner said. “... It may not ever be published by a newspaper but is still needed as a reporting or journalistic tool.”
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