Vermont’s Hartford Police Department has had a fair share of troubles recently. Three times in a little more than one year cases alleging excessive force were deemed serious enough to be investigated by the state attorney general’s office. The department was cleared in all three cases but the AG did suggest changing officer training procedures. At least two news organizations and the Vermont ACLU have sued the Hartford Department for release of records in these cases.

Now in another case it appears the Hartford Police are being proactive in leveraging social media to defend their desire not to make records public after repeated requests from the press. The Valley News reports:

Hartford Police Chief Glenn Cutting denied the request, citing an exemption for records related to criminal investigations. The Valley News and other open government advocates in Vermont have argued that most records should be released once an investigation is closed, and [Valley News reporter] Davis then appealed to Hartford Town Manager Hunter Rieseberg.  

The case in question is a family murder and suicide. The sad incident was a murder-suicide committed by a 50-year-old man who killed his elderly mother and step-father, then committed suicide. Although family members have not seen the police records, they are citing worry about tabloid style sensationalism and would prefer the records stayed closed. They praise the department and are supporting the Police Facebook effort to stop the newspaper from pursuing release of the records in court. Over 50 family and friends have left comments on Facebook expressing similar support.

The Valley News editor Jeff Good expresses sympathy for the family, however, he says, “…but we also choose to pursue the information from the police investigation that the law says is public”.

Saint Michael’s College media studies department chairman David Mindich explains:

The Upper Valley readers who were siding with the police department on Facebook weren't distinguishing between the newspaper’s request for information and what it might ultimately publish.

“The public has to be very careful not to side with police and government officials to censor the press or to thwart the press' right and, in fact, responsibility, to gather information,” he said.

“We care about families' feelings, but we also have to care about the health of our society, and how do you balance those two things? It's very difficult,”

Allen Gilbert, the head of Vermont ACLU, is alarmed by the police-sponsored Facebook page in light of the department’s past record.

“This is the first time I've seen a public agency using social media not just to get around the press, but to intimidate the press. That's really how I see this. They are essentially trying to make you folks respond to public pressure in a way I don't see as justified,”