June 22, 2022
Statement from Kelley Shannon, executive director of Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, urging transparency in Uvalde mass shooting investigation:
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas continues to urge law enforcement and other government officials at all levels – school, city, county, state and federal – to promptly release critical information related to the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Uvalde residents and the public at large have been subjected to the withholding of information about what took place that dreadful day. Information that has trickled out since the tragedy has sometimes been inaccurate or incomplete. For many, this further deepens the pain. Making more information publicly available allows citizens to hold their government accountable. Shining light on truth, even if it’s difficult to bear, can also engender public trust of law enforcement in the long term.
It is important to note that the Texas Public Information Act does not require law enforcement investigators to withhold information from the public about a crime. The law enforcement exception to release is discretionary. In fact, many police and prosecutors across Texas routinely release investigative information to the public when they feel the need to – whether to help catch a wanted suspect, to seek more tips about a crime or to showcase the positive performance of police.
We ask that the people’s right to know be respected and that law enforcement records related to the Uvalde shootings be made available to the public right away.
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For more information, contact the FOI Foundation of Texas at 512-377-1575.
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to First Amendment rights and enhancing the public’s right to know about government. The organization’s website is www.foift.org.