Baltimore police ‘arbitrary and capricious’ in denying public records fee waiver, high court rules

The Maryland Supreme Court agreed Thursday that the Baltimore Police Department’s refusal to waive a $245,000 fee for public records of investigations into officers’ use of force was “arbitrary and capricious” and ignored the public’s interest in the files. The unanimous decision is the first time the state’s top court has weighed in on the denial of a public record fee waiver.