RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Virginia legislative panel has killed a bill that would have allowed the government to keep the names of police officers secret from the news media and the public.
A House subcommittee voted unanimously to table Republican Sen. John Cosgrove's bill on Thursday, effectively killing the measure for the year.
The bill pit open-records advocates up against law enforcement groups in a fierce debate over government transparency.
It was introduced in response to a recent court ruling directing the state to turn over the names and employment dates of thousands of law enforcement officials to The Virginian-Pilot. Supporters of the bill said the release of such information could put officers in danger.
Open records advocates have said they're unaware of another state with a law of this scope.
