SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST CHARLESTON POLICE IN FOIA REQUEST

(12/10/2008)

The West Virginia Supreme Court says the city of Charleston must turn over police time records to the Charleston Gazette. The newspaper filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the city in 2007 for the records of 28 police officers. The request followed the convictions of four officers on charges alleging they worked second paid jobs while on duty for the department. Charleston officials denied the request, claiming it was a violation of privacy. In ordering the city to turn over the records, the high court said releasing the information would not be an invasion of the officers' privacy, and that the officers did not have an expectation that their time records would be kept private. The unanimous ruling reversed a Kanawha County Circuit Court ruling.

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