A police captain in San Benito was arrested in Harlingen over the weekend, but city officials tried to keep his name under wraps, the Valley Morning Star reported:

City Manager Manuel Lara said he understood that arrests were public record but refused to disclose the officer's name because he did not have details of the case.

"We need to find out more details," Lara said. "I need to see what can be released legally."

The newspaper countered that view with that of Joel White. He's a First Amendment lawyer with the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas -- he helped me out not long ago when I had a question and needed some FOI advice.

"The names of people who are arrested are public record, not only for the public but also for the person arrested. We don't have private arrests in this country. They have to release that information," White said.

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