Dayton Daily News of two minds on law enforcement release of classified data?

June 23, 2004
Dayton Daily News

Eaton says chief gave out classified data
He got information from LEADS

EATON | Eaton officials Monday acknowledged Police Chief Philip L. Romeo shared classified information with the school district superintendent about a Dayton Daily News vehicle used during a statewide public records project.

It is against Ohio law for law enforcement officials to share information with the public from the Law Enforcement Automated Data System.

LEADS Administrator Staff Sgt. James Hamilton of the Ohio Highway Patrol said Tuesday his office has finished its investigation into whether the Eaton Police Division shared information from the system about a car driven by reporter Joanne Smith.

Hamilton said he couldn't disclose findings until after the LEADS review board meets in September.

LEADS, an electronic communication network, is used by law enforcement, courts and prosecutors to retrieve information about driving records, vehicle ownership and outstanding warrants.

If the board finds LEADS information was used improperly, the Eaton Police Division would be required to take disciplinary action, up to termination, against the person responsible, LEADS officials have said.

Smith visited Eaton as part of a project to gauge the ease in obtaining public records. More than 90 media representatives visited school districts, police departments and county and city offices in each of Ohio's 88 counties April 21. The auditors did not identify themselves unless asked. Ohio law doesn't require identification to obtain public records.

Romeo told council members Monday that he called Eaton school Superintendent Joe Deluca after calling schools Treasurer Virginia Welch to reassure them about Smith, having already run her plate through LEADS.

"Merely telling the school district that 'Don't worry, it's a member of the media,' may indeed have been a technical oversight, but one I am willing to take responsibility for because I did it myself," Romeo said.

City Manager Dave Daily said he told LEADS officials he supported Romeo.

Commentary:
How is it that the news that the Shelby Co. Sheriff and Sidney Daily News are under investigation by a special prosecutor for the release of classified data about concealed handgun license-holders can be ignored by this newspaper, yet the DDN cries foul when their protected information is unlawfully disseminated?

OFCC notified the DDN of the appointment of Gary Nasal as special prosecutor on Wenesday, June 16. Two days later, the Associated Press issued a story announcing same. The DDN and most other Ohio newspapers ignored the story, choosing instead to focus on word that delays at sheriffs' offices have succeeded in diminishing numbers of CHL applications in some areas.

"Publicize everything!"

"Protect our classified data!"

They can't have it both ways.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for a letter to the DDN editor offering an alternative viewpoint to the Ohio Newspaper Association's "stand" on public records.

June 23, 2004
Dayton Daily News

People don't want to be identified

Re the series on public records ("Access denied," June 13-15): The Dayton Daily News is doing a disservice to the community with its reports about open records. It assumes the reason governmental agencies will not give out information is because they are arrogant.

As a current law enforcement supervisor, let me propose another reason: We know people who don't want to be identified.

While I agree that there is no reason to refuse to pass out salary information or the amount of cell phone bills, I take exception when it comes to handing out crime reports. Most citizens would be opposed to randomly handing out their information after they have been the victim of a crime.

Many citizens ask me, "Is this information going to be public?" I reassure them by saying it could be, but that people rarely ask for it. The DDN is undermining that reassurance.

Think how easy it would be for a rapist to simply scratch the car of a potential victim, and then go to the police department later and ask to see the report. He now has the person's name, address and phone numbers.

Can the DDN not accept that it is reasonable to require that the parties requesting the information identify themselves and the reason they want the information?

Also, citizens should have the right to ask that their personal information be restricted. In order to "inform" the public, the DDN only needs to know what happened, not whom it happened to.

Citizens, wake up. These laws that the media say you want put you at the most risk. — Karl Schmidt, Xenia