Law-enforcement officer; public release of identifying information, etc.

Prohibits any public official, public employee, or person acting on behalf of a public official or public employee from releasing to the public any identifying information of a law-enforcement officer who is the subject of an official investigation that involves the discharge of a firearm or use of force by such law-enforcement officer during the performance of his official duties prior to the conclusion of such official investigation or the conclusion of the first six months of such investigation. The bill requires that such law-enforcement officer's name be released to the public if he is charged with a criminal offense as a result of the official investigation. The bill authorizes the law-enforcement officer's name to be withheld if the law-enforcement officer is not charged with a criminal offense as a result of the official investigation and the release of his name would create a risk of harm to such law-enforcement officer or his family. A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill makes corresponding changes in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.