Murder Mystery: Who Killed Yale Student Suzanne Jovin? Message Board

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Pastimes : Murder Mystery: Who Killed Yale Student Suzanne Jovin?

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To: Jeffrey S. Mitchell who wrote (1059)	2/13/2002 11:10:02 AM
From: Jeffrey S. Mitchell	Read Replies (1) of 1397

Re: 2/13/02 - New Haven Register: Change FOI law; police files should not be public Opinions LETTER Change FOI law; police files should not be public Letter to the Editor February 13, 2002 Today, the state Freedom of Information commission is set to decide whether the New Haven Police Department must release its case file on the murder investigation of Yale University senior Suzanne Jovin. The Freedom of Information Act mandates the public reports and some investigative work product be released, upon request. However, the law exempts certain information. Although the original hearing officer ruled that none of the file should be made public, an appeal resulted in a recommendation from FOI Commissioner Denis O'Connor that the majority of the file should be made public. O'Connor wrote that the public's right to know must be balanced against the police need to maintain the integrity of the investigation. But common sense dictates that maintaining the integrity of the investigation must be the paramount concern. The murderer remains at large, and would certainly profit from the release of any materials in the case file. Such a document-dump would give the killer a free look at the potential case against him or her. While the state legislature's goal of an informed public is laudable, the current Freedom of Information Act goes too far. Especially where the information sought involves an ongoing murder investigation. The legislature has, in effect, placed the FOIC in a high-stakes game of playing detective, trying to figure out which information may or may not be potentially useful to police. Certainly, the apprehension of a brutal killer far outweighs whatever lurid, tabloid interest the public may have. The Freedom of Information Act is in need of immediate revision so that it does not jeopardize the integrity of criminal investigations. The victim's rights must be protected. Meanwhile, New Haven should pursue its appellate remedies should it receive an adverse decision. Gov. John Rowland should also explore his options to intercede and prevent potentially irreversible damage to the Jovin investigation. Jovin deserves to have her killer brought to justice, even if that means denying the public an interesting read. John S. Grottole West Haven ©New Haven Register 2002 newhavenregister.com

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