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Denver halt spy files activists { April 17 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2586277 http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2586277 Denver to Halt 'Spy Files' on Peaceful Organizers Thu April 17, 2003 03:08 PM ET DENVER (Reuters) - Denver police will no longer photograph, record license plate numbers or intercept e-mail of peaceful demonstrators, under terms of a settlement reached on Thursday between the city and the ACLU. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado sued the city in 2002 on behalf of groups and individuals that included the American Friends Service Committee, an 85 year-old pacifist Quaker group, and a 73-year-old Franciscan nun. Some of the people in what have been dubbed the "spy files" were falsely labeled as "criminal extremists." In the settlement, which must be approved by U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham, the intelligence unit would be limited to gathering information about serious criminal activity and not on people who are suspected of nonviolent civil disobedience that amounts to a misdemeanor. The agreement was reached after a hearing in federal court. Denver City Attorney J. Wallace Wortham after the hearing said the agreement could be a model for other police departments. "The policy itself is a national standard that most probably will be adopted by other big-city departments," Wortham said. "This agreement is particularly significant at this time when the White House falsely claims that Americans must sacrifice their civil liberties if they are going to be safe from terrorism," ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein said in a statement. "As this agreement demonstrates, effective law enforcement does not require giving up our constitutional rights." Two of the plaintiffs, Stephen and Vicki Nash, said they were disappointed police officers involved will not be disciplined. "The settlement will not help in determining who was responsible or how many top police officials knew about the spy files," the couple said in a statement. The file on Stephen Nash described his activities as an organizer for Amnesty International. (Additional reporting by Keith Coffman)

Denver cops violated rights { April 20 1999 } Denver halt spy files activists { April 17 2003 } Doubt police ease spying { February 21 2003 } New spy policy challenged { February 21 2003 } Pentagon spying on americans Files Listed: 5

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