On Thursday the VND carried a story (http://www.pittsburghlive.com /x/pittsburghtrib/s_543715.htm l) about a decision of Springdale Council to accept the resignation of two police officers. According to the VND Springdale refuses to identify the officers, and the VND has been forced to file a formal request to see the resignation letters.

Today the VND is editorializing on the issue.(http://pittsburghlive.c om/x/valleynewsdispatch/news/s _543964.html)

The letters of resignation might not turn out to be documents the public has a right to read, but I am surprised that Springdale would not even identify the former officers. If the public has no right to know the names of their former police officers, it is a short step to not being allowed to know the names of the current police officers. The notion of having secret police in America is abhorrent.