COLUMBUS, OH (WOWO) The Ohio Supreme Court ruled Friday that police officers can be considered victims under Marsy’s Law, allowing their identities to be shielded from public records requests when they are targets of a crime. The 4–3 decision centers on a July 2023 case in which three men robbed multiple Columbus-area businesses before engaging officers in a highway chase and shootout. One suspect shot an officer five times before being killed by police. Two others were later captured and sentenced. Hours after the shooting, The Columbus Dispatch sought body-camera and dashboard-camera footage. Columbus Police released video but redacted officers’ names and identifying details, arguing the officers were victims protected under Marsy’s Law. The newspaper sued, claiming officers acting in their official duties cannot invoke the amendment. Justice Patrick DeWine, writing for the majority, rejected that argument according to WBNS 10-TV. He wrote that Marsy’s Law defines a victim as any person against whom a criminal act is committed, and nothing excludes police officers from that definition. DeWine said the case was straightforward and the amendment’s text was “clear and determinative.” The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio praised the ruling, calling it “common sense” and asserting officers deserve the same privacy protections as any other victim of crime. Two dissenting justices, however, said Columbus Police went too far. Justice Patrick Fischer agreed officers involved in the shootout were victims, but argued the department withheld additional footage from officers who were not victims and therefore not entitled to redaction. Justice Jennifer Brunner raised concerns about public records access, writing that officers performing duties in public have no reasonable expectation of privacy in their identities. The case comes as use of Marsy’s Law by law enforcement has drawn scrutiny nationwide. Critics argue the amendment has been used to obscure officer identities in use-of-force incidents, limiting transparency. Ohio’s ruling stands in contrast to Florida’s Supreme Court, which in 2023 found that Marsy’s Law does not grant victims — including officers — a categorical right to anonymity. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said the city followed its interpretation of the law and will comply with any future legislative changes. The ACLU of Ohio called for renewed efforts to ensure government transparency, saying violent encounters between police and civilians deserve “daylight.” The post Court: Officers Shot in Line of Duty Qualify as Crime Victims appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less