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BURLEY, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into a joint law enforcement committee in Cassia County over allegations that it violated state open government laws.
The Times-News had called for the investigation after the newspaper obtained committee members' emails through a public records request (http://bit.ly/1SDmbI8 ). The newspaper found evidence that the committee, a panel of citizens appointed by the city and county to study the police services contract, had violated the state's open meeting laws.
A Cassia County District Judge Michael Crabtree on Thursday appointed two deputy attorneys general to investigate the allegations
Attorney General's office spokesman Todd Dvorak said he wouldn't comment on how long the investigation will last.
"And from this point forward, the office will more than likely decline to comment on the case, citing office policy not to comment on pending litigation," he said.
In the records requested by the newspaper, emails show the committee colluded to keep information from the public if media was at the committee meetings.
Committee chairman Bill Parsons said he was trying to keep the information away from Weekly Mailer co-owner Jay Lenkersdorfer, who was a candidate for Burley City Council.
"Linkensdorf (referring to Lenkersdorfer) is moving around and I do not want him to have any information until we present to both bodies. We will not turn on computer until we see who is there," Parsons wrote in an email.
No hearings have been set in the case.
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Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com
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