Constitutional Law

Richmond police want documents back from anarchist

By By The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. ? Richmond's police chief is seeking the return of documents the department turned over to a local anarchist group that posted them online.

Chief Bryan T. Norwood said in a complaint filed this week in Richmond Circuit Court that Mo Karn received documents exempt from release under her request under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Norwood alleges that the public dissemination of the documents endangers city police officers and citizens, specifically because the information includes tactical strategies police employ during emergencies.

Karn told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that her group sought the documents to learn the department's rules and monitor whether they're being followed. The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia said Jan. 6 that it had agreed to represent Karn.

The Times-Dispatch reported that Norwood said in his complaint that a police department attorney had exceeded her authority in giving the documents to Karn without Norwood's approval.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on January 07, 2011 (boomark / email).