Aspen Newspaper Sues For Police Documents

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - The Aspen Times is suing for access to documents about a former Basalt police chief.

The newspaper says it filed suit Saturday to force the town to release an investigation report on the professional conduct of former Police Chief Roderick O'Connor. The lawsuit seeks a hearing to determine if the investigation documents should be released under the Colorado Open Records Act.

O'Connor was placed on paid administrative leave in October after the town received a complaint from within the department about him. The nature of the complaint has never been revealed.

Basalt's attorney said the documents are protected as part of a personnel matter. O'Connor resigned Nov. 23.

Newspaper attorneys argue that investigations into the conduct of a government official on the job don't qualify as a personnel issue.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)