Panel’s Report Is Needed Now

One of the county grand jury’s main missions is to serve as the watchdog of local government, monitoring its honesty and efficiency and reporting its findings to the public.

To be most effective, grand jury reports of its committee studies should be released as soon as they are completed rather than held to the end of the jury term and disclosed as part of its final report.

Some jury panels don’t do that. To its credit, the current panel does. For example, a recent grand jury report detailed the growing population of rats in some South County communities and offered recommendations for controlling the problem.

We hope the panel is just as diligent in releasing its findings on the in-depth study a jury committee is doing of operations in the office of Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas.

Supporters of the district attorney, whose reelection is contested in the March 5 balloting, term the study routine. Others see it as more.

What the public has seen for many months now are charges, countercharges, news stories and allegations about internal friction and favorable treatment for political allies. Voters would be best served if the grand jury can complete and release its results before March 5.

Release of the report is needed to lift any cloud of suspicion that knowledge of its preparation may have created, and to give voters insight into the office’s operation so they can make a better informed decision.

The grand jury will fulfill its responsibility much better by releasing its report before election day, rather than having voters looking back at their decisions weeks later.