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Hinkle: State patrol
officers’ personal information
should not be made public
13th
District lawmaker believes safety comes first
State Rep. Bill Hinkle
is proposing a bill that would prevent the broad, general release of
Washington State Patrol officers’ personal information to the public.
The legislation is in response to a request from a news organization for
the full name, entire date-of-birth, photo and other personal
information of every Washington State Patrol officer.
The request is the subject of a Spokane County court case. The personal
information has not yet been made public due to an injunction. A judge
is scheduled to hear arguments over that injunction tomorrow.
“When the issue of open government collides with protecting the lives of
our state troopers and their families, safety should come first. Law
enforcement officials put their lives on the line every day to protect
the public. The least we can do is help them feel more secure in their
own homes,” said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. “There are a lot of revenge-driven
criminals and identity thieves who would love to take personal
information and do bad things with it. It’s not fair for our state
patrol officers to be subject to this dangerous risk.”
Hinkle’s legislation has the support of the
Washington
State Patrol Troopers Association.
“I respect the media and watchdog groups that feel this information
would help with combating government waste and voter fraud. But our
state patrol officers are not engaging in these types of activities,”
said Hinkle. “There needs to be a line – and I’m hoping my bill will
draw it.”
Hinkle can be contacted at (509) 933-1238 or
hinkle.bill@leg.wa.gov.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Mike Deising, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7698
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