Police departments across the nation are able to avoid transparency because they receive amnesty under most public disclosure laws. While there's something to be said about how releasing information compromises the integrity of an investigation, most law enforcement agencies do not have to provide proof as to why this would happen if they were to release the information that's requested.
It's crazy to think that there are certain parts of governments across the nation that are immune to disclosure. Law enforcement agencies should be held to the same standards as all others. They need to be the most transparent since their efforts have a direct impact on our security.
The exemptions law enforcement agencies receive should be removed or at least softened to make crime research possible.