FOIA gone wild! Richmond PD honors FOIA records request; Chief wants them all back

[Repeater]

The biggest web of all is the World Wide Web

Indeed, the bigger web they weave, the more apt it is to be seen (for what it is).

Unintended consequences et al.

It appears to me that almost any man may like the spider spin from his own inwards his own airy citadel. — John Keats

The biggest web of all is the World Wide Web (www).

We will be silenced no longer.

 

[Repeater]

Richmond surrenders; police chief seems puzzled

City withdraws suit against admitted anarchist group over police documents

The city of Richmond is ending its legal quest to recover police documents turned over to an anarchist group, which posted them on its website.

Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood said Monday night that he didn't know that the city's chief administrative officer, Byron Marshall, had decided to withdraw the legal action.

Norwood later said he had been involved in discussions over the past couple of days about how to proceed. His objective in filing the lawsuit was to get back the documents quickly, and city officials agreed that was not going to happen.

Withdrawing the suit is "the prudent thing to do," Norwood said.

"We don't want to waste city resources," said Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary for Mayor Dwight C. Jones.

The ACLU of Virginia agreed to take her case, and Executive Director Kent Willis said Monday it was "the first wise decision the city has made regarding this whole matter."

"The city never had a legal leg to stand on," he said. "The only mystery that remains is why city officials chose to devote so many resources to this ill-fated case in the first place."

It does seem that cooler heads prevailed in the end. That, and the dismissal in Henrico demonstrates the fact that at least some localities can and will do the right thing.

Now, if only Surry would follow.

 

[peter nap]

City withdraws suit against admitted anarchist group over police documents



It does seem that cooler heads prevailed in the end. That, and the dismissal in Henrico demonstrates the fact that at least some localities can and will do the right thing.

Now, if only Surry would follow.

I'm not so sure cooler heads were the reason in Richmond.
The RPD is legendary about not complying with FOIA's. It's a fight to get anything at all from them.

I think they knew that if they lost the Policy case it would open the doors to losing all the P&P requests.

I emailed Megan Rhyne last night about an FOIA involving Skidmarks case. I also congratulated her on their position on the RPD case and she replied:

What was the RPD thinking!?!?!?

:lol::lol:

We need tougher FOIA penalties.

 

[Grapeshot]

City withdraws suit against admitted anarchist group over police documents



It does seem that cooler heads prevailed in the end. That, and the dismissal in Henrico demonstrates the fact that at least some localities can and will do the right thing.

Now, if only Surry would follow.

Oh I think they will - just not willingly. They will have plenty of well directed insistence.

 

[peter nap]

Oh I think they will - just not willingly. They will have plenty of well directed insistence.

A little OT Grapeshot, but a good time to mention it. I pay way too much in fees to various organizations every year, but if I had to choose only two, it would be:

VCDL
and
The Virginia Coalition for open government.
http://www.opengovva.org/

They have always been far more helpful than the FOIA Advisory Council and the membership is only around thirty bucks.

 

[VAlitigator]

City withdraws suit against admitted anarchist group over police documents



It does seem that cooler heads prevailed in the end. That, and the dismissal in Henrico demonstrates the fact that at least some localities can and will do the right thing.

Now, if only Surry would follow.

To RPD with love:

 

[nuc65]

Why not give the documents back, scan and copy first, but give them back and get a refund?

 

[Grapeshot]

Why not give the documents back, scan and copy first, but give them back and get a refund?

I like the way you think - you have found a way to unring their bell. :lol:

 

[Repeater]

Anarchists with guns

From the Collective (Style Weekly - 01/25/2011):

Which of the following best describes how you feel when you look at this photo:

1) Anarchists with guns -- I'm scared!

2) Dude, where's my carbine?

3) Can I join?

4) Repeal the Dillon Rule!

 

[peter nap]

5} I can't believe you read Style Weekly.

 

[wylde007]

How else are we to keep up with the comings and goings of Richmond's bartender buffoons?

 

[Grapeshot]

How else are we to keep up with the comings and goings of Richmond's bartender buffoons?

You need a paper rag to tell you who the stupid players are? :lol:

 

[wylde007]

You need a paper rag to tell you who the stupid players are? :lol:

Need?

No, it's just funnier to read their inanity and know that no matter how hard they try they will always be tap-jockeys.

 

[Repeater]

Free of charge

5} I can't believe you read Style Weekly.

Why, it's worth exactly what the publisher charges for it.

 

[SicSemperTyrannis]

From the Collective (Style Weekly - 01/25/2011):

Which of the following best describes how you feel when you look at this photo:

1) Anarchists with guns -- I'm scared!

2) Dude, where's my carbine?

3) Can I join?

4) Repeal the Dillon Rule!

Hey - these are pro-gun folks who prove that not every second amendment fan is a southern white guy. I'm gay, for example. This group makes a positive difference in our community without using any tax dollars and they hold the police accountable by working within the system. They can call themselves anarchists or whatever they want, I think we'd all benefit from more people like them! Anyway, I am a conservative guy with a strong libertarian streak, and I think this group is GREAT. They certainly don't look like me, but we all know how dangerous it can be to judge a book by its cover.

On another topic - I talked to a friend today who is a state employee who is close to several Capitol Police - he said they are still absolutely furious about the guy from Yorktown who showed up with that "pistol". First I had heard they are "furious". I was there - and as usual, I found the Capitol Police to be among the most polite, knowledgable and professional law enforcement agents I've ever encountered.

 

[VAlitigator]

On another topic - I talked to a friend today who is a state employee who is close to several Capitol Police - he said they are still absolutely furious about the guy from Yorktown who showed up with that "pistol". First I had heard they are "furious". I was there - and as usual, I found the Capitol Police to be among the most polite, knowledgable and professional law enforcement agents I've ever encountered.


I missed the backstory on this; what was the issue with "that 'pistol'"? Was it an AK or AR pistol or something?

 

[TFred]

On another topic - I talked to a friend today who is a state employee who is close to several Capitol Police - he said they are still absolutely furious about the guy from Yorktown who showed up with that "pistol". First I had heard they are "furious". I was there - and as usual, I found the Capitol Police to be among the most polite, knowledgable and professional law enforcement agents I've ever encountered.


I missed the backstory on this; what was the issue with "that 'pistol'"? Was it an AK or AR pistol or something?

See this post.

TFred

 

[VAlitigator]

See this post.

TFred

Thanks

 

[Repeater]

Police win, wingnuts lose

Well, too bad:

Judge orders online information about Richmond police to be taken down

A Richmond judge has ordered the removal of sensitive police department information including personal contact information for employees that was posted online by activists.

Judge Gregory L. Rupe of Richmond Circuit Court entered an order last week granting the Richmond Police Department’s request for an injunction in the case against Nathan Cox and Mo Karn, the anarchist who has clashed with police in the past over whether she has a right to publish certain police documents online.

Cox is involved with Virginia CopBlock, an organization that seeks to hold police agencies accountable, and Karn is affiliated with The Wingnut, an anarchist collective in the southern Barton Heights neighborhood.

...

Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood later said in a complaint that the documents provided to Karn by city staff were not required to be released and that “the dissemination of these documents ... jeopardizes and endangers Richmond police officers and citizens.”

So, can we now have sensitive CHP data sealed as well?

Good thing OC doesn't require any documentation, huh?