Should names of police officers involved in shootings be released?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:30:28 -0500

Should names of police officers involved in shootings be released? It only seems to serve to make them a target. Should they be afforded privacy and no names be released unless they are charged with an unclean shooting? It seems to me that we have laws to protect others from releasing names, but it seems that there is no shame with today's media and everyone wants to release names as fast as they can to one-up their competition regardless if it harms those individuals that may not be correct and therefore harm them or equally as bad if they are innocent but their name is now smeared.

What are your thoughts? Should we curb what the media "needs".

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2014 9:32 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:32:22 -0500

Yes! But they also need to be transparent.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2014 9:27 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:27:56 -0500

It's a shame when you have police departments and whomever is in the media's spotlight scrambling to get themselves together to protect their identity or character. They are more focused on getting things straightened out before the media gets to it rather than focusing on the crime to be solved or issue at hand. The media is always like "The public deserves to know." We all know that is a load of foolishness. Their ratings is what's important to them. It's gotten to the point that the media will put a citizen's life in danger by exposing them and they would not care one bit.

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Dec 2 at 2014 1:17 PM

CPL Rick Stasny — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:17:49 -0500

I believe that the name of the department involved and the outcome of the event should be enough. If it were proven that the officer was negligent then yes. When I handled a narcotics dog, we were assisting a department about an hour away from my home. Several arrest were made, and the next day we were on the front page of the local newspaper. They gave our names and where we worked. The only thing they forgot was our phone number and address. Several weeks later I passed through the town again, and a family member of one guys that was arrested that evening went off on me in a convenience store. Too much info is definitely a bad thing.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 10:13 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 10:13:50 -0500

No, but if the officer's name is released, the journalist's name should be released as well. Officer's address, journalist's same. Maybe then the journalist will have some perspective on just how much the public "needs" to know.

Response by SPC Chelsea Fernandez made Dec 8 at 2014 1:34 PM

SPC Chelsea Fernandez — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 13:34:11 -0500

Yes yes yes no questions about it.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Dec 8 at 2014 6:57 PM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 18:57:47 -0500

Initially No. Because even in a clear cut no doubt the Officer was justified, they and their families still receive death threats.

If the decision is to indict/charge the Police Officer for a crime, then at that time it is fair to release the name.

This is similar to how the regular population is treated.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 10:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 22:17:45 -0500

I think releasing the officers name while the investigation is ongoing should be protected. Once the investigation is completed it will be a matter of public record. I think regardless of whether the officer is cleared or found negligent the name should be released only when the investigation has been completed.

A police officer goes to work everyday with a target on their back.

Response by Sgt Ken Prescott made Jul 16 at 2015 7:59 AM

Sgt Ken Prescott — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 07:59:50 -0400

No. If someone ends up getting shot on my dime, I expect a full accounting of the circumstances. If the police officer doesn't like it, I'm sure there's other things one can do for a living.