No place for secrecy

Thanks to a state statute that keeps a host of information from the public, Memphians may never fully know what happened the September day an off-duty police officer fatally shot a 15-year-old boy.

Terrance Shaw resigned Monday rather than face possible termination from the Memphis Police Department. He shot Justin Thompson on Sept. 24. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the incident, but its investigative records are sealed under state law. Officials said the files can only be disclosed to the public in compliance with a subpoena or a court order.

Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich elected not to charge Shaw with a crime and said the shooting was considered a justifiable homicide. Police Director Toney Armstrong, because of the statute, would not elaborate on the incident, except to say Shaw “should not have been in that situation.” He did indicate the victim and Shaw knew each other.

There are good reasons to keep some records from the public under the statute, including medical and student records. In cases like the one involving Shaw, the public is not well served by secrecy.

Police officers are public servants who carry the heavy responsibility of making life-and-death decisions in the performance of their duties. When one is involved in a shooting, on or off duty, the public has a right to know why it happened.

Keeping that information secret erodes confidence in law enforcement.