On March 13, PDT staff writer Jeff Barron writes, “Police Chief Charles Horner was upset that the 3rd Ward councilman ran a letter from a Cincinnati attorney detailing a police settlement over a court case involving the police department on his Web site.”

Well, I say that's just too bad. Chief Horner can be as mad as he wants and it won't change the facts of the matter.

That letter is a matter of public record in a court case involving Chief Horner. He and the city were sued because of improper actions. He's now upset because a public document stemming from that suit was posted on a Web site that posts a lot of city of Portsmouth public documents.

Did it make him look bad? Of course it did, but then again it's his own fault that the lawsuit happened to begin with. Now he wants Councilman Bob Mollette disciplined in a rash attempt to both assert control over Mollette and City Council, as well as in an attempt to try and save face.

Unless a judge orders the court documents sealed, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with what Councilman Mollette did. Maybe, as the chief of police, he should spend a little more time reading the Ohio Revised Code. While he's at it, he needs to brush up on the U.S. Code and Constitutional Law. A great place to start would be with the U.S. Constitution itself.

There's a reason that people are allowed access to public records. Maybe while studying those dusty ORC tomes he'll find it. Better yet, maybe he'll be reacquainted with some of the laws that he's sworn to uphold. You know, the ones that give us Americans our freedoms!

You lost. Too bad. Get over it, chief!

Paul Christian

former resident of Portsmouth

Fairfax, Va.