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Court Considers Release of Lakewood Police Records

A Washington State Trooper directs traffic near the Parkland site where four Lakewood Police Officers were shot and killed in late November, 2009.
AP photo
A Washington State Trooper directs traffic near the Parkland site where four Lakewood Police Officers were shot and killed in late November, 2009.

     The state Supreme Court is considering whether to release thousands of police records related to last year's fatal shooting of four Lakewood police officers.

      The Seattle Times is seeking release of the records. The files are from the case of Maurice Clemmons, an ex-con who gunned down the Lakewood officers in November.

      Clemmons was killed by a Seattle officer following a massive manhunt. But a half-dozen people are charged with crimes for allegedly aiding him.

      The defendants argue that police records related to the shootings must be kept out of public view because they could make a fair trial impossible.

      The Times contends that a Pierce County judge didn't find any solid proof of that risk.