Two recent news stories demonstrate institutional police resistance to individual officers being held accountable for false testimony and other misconduct.

The first arises from drug raid in Middlesex County on a knock and announce warrant. The lead officer testified that he had duly announced his presence and the warrant, and that the door was broken down only after no response. Surveillance footage obtained by defense counsel showed that he had lied under oath. In fact, the police broke the door down with no announcement, and the testifying officer was at the back of the team. After the search was suppressed and the charges dismissed, defense counsel disseminated the record of the case to the Public Defender and other lawyers. The acting County Prosecutor brought suit to seal the information, arguing that disclosure would interfere with a police internal affairs investigation. Superior Court dismissed the suit and sanctioned the County Prosecutor's office, ruling that there was no legal basis to prohibit the dissemination to the public of the record of proceedings in open court.