◆ SpookStack

~~ ” with the exception of the ballistics documentation, these files -—— reflect an outstanding job of team effort and research. In recent years, many people have advocated in court petitions and requests that these ten volume summaries be released for public inspection. Special Counsel Kranz recommends that, upon editing of the particular files of personal histories and private sensitive matter, that might be embarassing to witnesses, potential suspects, and subjects (whose cooperation was essential to the police and investigative agencies) that the ten volume summary be released to the general public. The events in recent years, particularly the Congressionai investigations into government secrecy and deception, make it imperative that public agencies and institutions retain. the confidence and trust of the public. The refusal of fputilic agencies, and in this instance the Los Angeles Police Department, to open investigative files on a matter that has been officially Closed undermines faith in law enforcement. Unlike the L.A.P.D., the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has consistently held its files and reports on the Sirhan matter open to the public at all times. During the special inves- tigation conducted by Special Counsel Kranz, numerous critics, including Ted Charach, Tom Thomson, editor of the L.A. Vanguard, and columnist Jim Horowitz, often looked at the District Attorney's files, reports, and interview sheets from the investigation conducted over the past eight years. The policy of openness Q) reflected by the District Attorney's Office should be emmulated by the L.A.P.D., and the ten volume summary should be released to the general public. The argument that such records of a police inves- tigation are exempted from forced disclosure under the state Public Records Act is moot since there is no longer an on-going investi- gation in the matter. As the Los Angeles Times has editorialized, perhaps represen- tatives of the County Bar Association could review and excise the ten volume summary, and delete personal histories, and sensitive matters that might be embarrassing to the several witnesses and people interviewed. In light of the unexplained destruction of ceiling panels and x-ray analysis, and in light of the lack of thorough documentation in the ballistics report, and the de- struction of the controversial second gun used to conduct muzzle distance and sound tests by DeWayne Wolfer, and the continuing doubts expressed by conspiracy buffs or the misinformed, the failure to release the ten volume summary will only contribute to doubt and suspicion. More importantly, public faith and confidence in law enforcement and public institutions is an essential element for the survival of any society. It is, of course, a legitimate purpose for investigative agencies to retain secret files on ‘potential suspects in areas regarding terrorism, sabotage, threats to lives and property, and assault and potential violence against | - 52 - ; | QO! 14 ve ‘ Me dg caps Me ROG 2 oe Dag LORS May ta