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W.Va. Supreme Court set to hear police FOIA case

September 09, 2008 @ 07:30 AM

The Associated Press

Herald-Dispatch.com

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s Supreme Court is set to weigh a case pitting police officer privacy against the public’s right to know.

Oral arguments over the city of Charleston’s refusal to release officer time sheets to the Charleston Gazette are scheduled for Tuesday.

The city cited privacy concerns and an ongoing investigation when it denied the newspaper’s Freedom of Information Act request for the records in July 2007.

When the newspaper questioned that rationale, the city sought a Kanawha Circuit Court opinion. That request was denied, prompting the appeal, which asks the high court to spell out the city’s rights and obligations in responding to the request.

The newspaper is seeking time sheets for 28 officers after four policemen pleaded guilty to being paid to work another job while on duty.