This op-ed in the Hartford Courant is about efforts to restrict the public's right to know how internal police investigations are conduct. From the op-ed:

"The latest, now making its way through the legislature, places further restrictions on the public's ability to review personnel records for state police.

"The tentative contract would exempt all internal affairs investigations from disclosure when a trooper is exonerated or when charges are deemed unfounded.

"The public has an interest in reviewing any investigation into the conduct of public employees. This exemption would prevent residents from knowing whether investigations were fair and complete."

Amye's note: And here's another example of an existing Maryland law that precludes public access to police personnel records documenting — or, tellingly, not documenting — some of the most egregious conduct imaginable:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-gttf-commissi…

The officers' wrongdoing has been exposed in the criminal proceedings, but the Baltimore Police Department's response (what did the department know, when did the department know it, and what did the department do) may never be public.

The Baltimore Police Gun Trace Task Force scandal is easily among the most shocking in the nation.

As a matter of sound public policy, it makes no sense to hide these records. "Public service is a public trust." Those who breach the public's trust must be publicly accountable.

"The public's right to know under the Open Records Act is premised upon the public's right to expect its agencies properly to execute their statutory functions. In general, inspection of records may reveal whether public servants are indeed serving the public, and the policy of disclosure provides impetus for an agency to steadfastly pursue the public good."