The judges were unanimous in their decision that complaints against police officers are not confidential “personnel” records, as argued by the state Department of Public Safety. Too often public agencies claim that complaints and disciplinary action against public employees are “personnel” issues and therefore exempt from public disclosure. While this is the case in some states, in many states that information is public by statute or case law (as in New Mexico, now!).

Whether your state laws make this information secret or not, fight for them to be made public. It just makes sense. When public employees mess up and violate their trust with their employers, the people, then the bosses (the people) deserve to know!

Last year the governor vetoed similar legislation, fearing that donors wouldn’t want to give money if people knew their identity. So this year’s bill allows donors and volunteers to remain anonymous if they wish.

At least it’s a start. In most states, universities are allowed to create private foundations to funnel donations; Their own little slush funds to hide all sorts of corruption. For example, several years ago The (UCLA) Daily Bruin found that rich people were making big contributions to get their slacker relatives into competitive programs (see story from 2007). While this legislation will still make it easy for that kind of bribery to occur, at least people would be able to look at other ways the foundations are spending donor money (swanky fetes for donors and university officials, etc.).

Check out this legislation and get it passed in your state!

Finally, it looks like some common sense might prevail in Congress. Agencies should not be allowed to fall back on fuzzy exemptions that make it easy to keep everything secret, including their own bungling. See story by FoxBusiness.

We’ll keep an eye on this at SPJ, just in case special interests (e.g., the business community) apply pressure to protect the recently approved secrecy clauses.

• The Telegraph (U.K.): Lives at risk as hospitals fail to act on patient safety

• The Herald: S.C. school districts required to post itemized spending records online

Happy FOI Friday, everyone! Today is my last day at SPJ Headquarters, and I want to thank you for being part of the SPJ FOI conversation.

• The Guardian Data Blog: Every BBC freedom of information request made – and what happened to it

• Wall Street Journal: Group sues for details on Imam’s death in raid

• The Washington Post: Where’s the full disclosure on the D.C. teacher firings?

• The Guardian: BBC lost laptops and mobiles worth £240,000

• The Detroit News: Detroit withholds records in cop’s shooting death

• The Seattle Times: Washington citizens must continue fight to keep tabs on government

• The Washington Post: Congress to hold hearing on SEC and FOIA