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San Diego County Police Unions Sue Over New State Transparency Law

San Diego police officers stand in a line revealing a patch on the right shoulder of their uniforms in this undated photo.
Nicholas McVicker
San Diego police officers stand in a line revealing a patch on the right shoulder of their uniforms in this undated photo.

Eight police unions in San Diego County are suing their departments to keep internal records prior to Jan. 1 shielded from public view.

A new transparency law, Senate Bill 1421, went into effect in January and grants the public access to department documents on police shootings and officer misconduct.

The unions suing represent officers in the San Diego, Carlsbad, Coronado, El Cajon, National City and Oceanside police departments.

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Various news organizations, including KPBS and The San Diego Union-Tribune, have requested police records under the new law.

A Chula Vista police officer who had sex in public resigned last year to avoid being fired, according to documents the Chula Vista Police Department released under the new law this week.

San Diego County Police Unions Sue Over New State Transparency Law
GUEST: Greg Moran, investigative reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune Subscribe to the Midday Edition podcast on iTunes, Google Play or your favorite podcatcher.

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