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Gov. Shapiro refuses to intervene on Pa. police officer data disclosure
Spotlight PA link: https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/08/pennsylvania-police-officer-data-denied/
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania will not release a state-maintained database of certified police officers, even after a national coalition of newsrooms asked Gov. Josh Shapiro to intervene. The newsrooms, including Spotlight PA, sent a letter on July 14 asking for the Democratic governor to assist with accessing public information about police officers that Pennsylvania State Police maintain.
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Shapiro’s office, in a response this week, declined to step in. “For law enforcement officers under his jurisdiction, Governor Shapiro continues to make this data available to the public in a responsible way that does not compromise trooper safety — which is our utmost priority,” said Will Simons, Shapiro’s communications director.
“However, the Pennsylvania State Police is not responsible for the administration of the other 1,300 law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and has no way of knowing which officers from those agencies are putting their lives on the line in dangerous undercover or covert operations,” Simons said.
The letter comes after Pennsylvania State Police denied the newsrooms’ request under the Right-to-Know Law to release the data earlier this year. The database is maintained by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission, an internal State Police body that certifies local police officers. The information contained in the data, such as name, rank, and employment history, is public.
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Shapiro’s office, in a response this week, declined to step in. “For law enforcement officers under his jurisdiction, Governor Shapiro continues to make this data available to the public in a responsible way that does not compromise trooper safety — which is our utmost priority,” said Will Simons, Shapiro’s communications director.
“However, the Pennsylvania State Police is not responsible for the administration of the other 1,300 law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania and has no way of knowing which officers from those agencies are putting their lives on the line in dangerous undercover or covert operations,” Simons said.
The letter comes after Pennsylvania State Police denied the newsrooms’ request under the Right-to-Know Law to release the data earlier this year. The database is maintained by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission, an internal State Police body that certifies local police officers. The information contained in the data, such as name, rank, and employment history, is public.
- more at link -
OK... there's no way to know how many police officers actually work undercover, is there? I'm guessing it's a small number. Apparently other states have figured out ways to shield their undercover police officers.
