WPRO News and the Associated Press
SCITUATE, R.I. (AP) – The Rhode Island State Police have revised a policy allowing anonymous requests for public records.
The Providence Journal reports (http://bit.ly/197IrHj) that state police changed the policy after the newspaper reported that visitors to barracks were asked to show IDs to be identified and checked for warrants.
The identification policy conflicted with the state open-records law, which does not require people to identify themselves to obtain public records.
State Police Superintendent Col. Steven O’Donnell said the policy was updated and troopers will no longer ask for identification of anyone seeking public records. Those making a request will instead be assigned a number in a computer dispatch system.
The number will be matched to the request and the trooper will make a physical description to verify the same person is getting the requested reports.
