Vt gov, AG disagree on access to police files

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Credit Community College of Vermont / Flickr

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont's Gov. Peter Shumlin and Attorney General William Sorrell appear to be at odds over a Shumlin proposal to grant more public access to police records.

Shumlin has said recently that access to records of police investigations is too restricted under current law. He wants a system of access to police records used by the federal government. They would be presumed open, except when a private citizen's privacy might be invaded or police investigative techniques might be compromised.

Sorrell told the state Senate's Judiciary Committee on Thursday he does not see a need for change in the current state law, which he sees as superior to the federal government's.

Committee chairman Sen. Richard Sears says he's leaning toward Shumlin's position, but would like to study what other states do.